Trump shifts position on releasing video of Caribbean strike, says decision rests with Hegseth

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump appeared to walk back his earlier openness to releasing footage of a disputed US military operation in the Caribbean, saying on Monday that the choice belongs to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At a White House briefing on Monday, ABC News reporter Rachel Scott asked Trump on whether he would instruct Hegseth to make public the video from the September 2 strike.

The strike had targeted a suspected drug-smuggling boat, after which a second round of fire was also ordered, which hit two individuals who survived the first attack.

Trump denied ever committing to the possibility of footage being released. “I didn’t say that. You said that, I didn’t say that,” he responded. “Whatever Hegseth wants to do is OK with me.”

His comments contrasted with what he told reporters last week, when he had said of the video: “Whatever they have, we’d certainly release, no problem.” But on Monday, the president showed a clear shift, offering support to Hegseth, who has faced questions over the operation. “Whatever he decides is OK with me,” Trump said.

He went on to defend the mission itself, describing the targeted vessel as a major drug shipment. “So every boat we knock out of the water, every boat we save 25,000 American lives,” Trump said. “That was a boat loaded up with drugs. I saw the video. They were trying to turn the boat back to where it could float. And we didn’t want to see that.”

Hegseth, for his part, has not committed to releasing the second-strike footage. On Saturday, he said the Pentagon was evaluating what could responsibly be made public. “So, whatever we were to decide to release, we’d have to be very responsible about, we’re reviewing that right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, pressure is mounting from Capitol Hill. Politico reported Monday that lawmakers are considering blocking a quarter of Hegseth’s travel budget unless Congress is given access to the videos of the strikes.