Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Details Authorization of Trump-Era Strike on Venezuelan Drug Vessel
Simi Valley, Calif. — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth disclosed new information on Saturday about the Trump administration’s initial military strike targeting a suspected drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Venezuela. Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Hegseth revealed that he personally authorized the operation on September 2, 2025, and monitored the strike live from the Pentagon.
In a detailed interview following his keynote address, Hegseth told Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson that the strike was the culmination of nearly a month of intelligence gathering, involving extensive coordination among military, civilian, legal, and intelligence analysts. The operation marked the first in a series of more than 20 U.S. strikes aimed at dismantling narco-terrorist networks linked to cartels operating throughout the Caribbean.
“The briefing that I received before that strike was extensive, exhaustive,” Hegseth said. “Military side, on the civilian side, lawyers, intel analysts, red-teaming … all the details you need to strike a designated terrorist organization.” The targeted vessel was part of a group formally designated by the Trump administration as a terrorist organization, underscoring the operation’s strategic significance.
Hegseth emphasized that he retained strike authority personally for this initial mission due to its sensitive nature and broad geopolitical implications. “My job was to say execute or don’t execute,” he explained. “I approved the strike.” He also dismissed reports alleging that he ordered U.S. forces to kill all individuals aboard the vessel, calling such claims “patently ridiculous.”
The Secretary of War’s remarks come amid growing attention to U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. The Department of Defense’s pivot to focus assets previously deployed thousands of miles away reflects a broader shift in national security priorities. The Department of Defense has increasingly emphasized counter-narcotics operations as integral to regional stability and U.S. homeland security.
Hegseth also praised President Donald Trump’s approach, describing him as the true heir to Ronald Reagan’s doctrine of “peace through strength.” He criticized previous bipartisan administrations for engaging in protracted conflicts abroad without clear objectives, contrasting that with the targeted, intelligence-driven operations under Trump’s leadership.
Experts warn that the U.S. stance toward Venezuela and its narco-terrorist networks could escalate tensions, potentially forcing a direct confrontation. The U.S. Department of State has maintained a firm position against the Maduro regime, which Washington accuses of enabling drug trafficking and harboring terrorist groups.
Hegseth’s disclosures also come as Congress debates defense spending levels, with some lawmakers expressing concern that current budgets do not adequately support the Department of War’s expanding mission set. The Secretary hinted at a forthcoming push for a significant increase in defense funding to rebuild what he termed the “arsenal of freedom,” a reference to modernizing U.S. military capabilities.
The strike off Venezuela was not an isolated event but part of a coordinated campaign to disrupt cartel-linked narco-terrorist operations across the Caribbean basin. The Drug Enforcement Administration and other agencies have long identified these groups as ruthless and savage, posing threats not only to regional security but also to the United States.
By personally authorizing the initial strike and overseeing its execution in real time, Hegseth underscored the administration’s commitment to aggressive, intelligence-led action against narco-terrorism. His remarks shed light on the complexities and high stakes of U.S. military involvement in countering illicit trafficking networks that span international waters and challenge conventional security frameworks.
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