Hegseth and Sen. Mark Kelly clash in classified briefing over Caribbean boat strikes

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed sharply with Sen. Mark Kelly during a classified congressional briefing Tuesday, erupting into a heated exchange over the Trump administration’s controversial lethal boat strikes in the Caribbean near Venezuela.

According to Punchbowl News, the confrontation unfolded after Kelly, a Democratic senator from Arizona and a Navy veteran, questioned officials about the ongoing military operations. Hegseth responded by referencing a separate Department of Defense investigation into Kelly, which stems from a video the senator recorded with other Democratic veterans warning active-duty service members not to follow unlawful orders.

Kelly pushed back, interrupting Hegseth and stressing that his question had nothing to do with the video or the investigation. Witnesses described the exchange as tense and combative, with Punchbowl founder Jake Sherman characterizing it as a “heated dust up” inside the briefing room.

The dispute comes as Hegseth faces mounting scrutiny over the Caribbean boat strikes, which some legal experts and lawmakers have warned could constitute war crimes or unlawful killings. Critics have raised alarms about civilian casualties, rules of engagement, and whether proper oversight was in place during the operations.

Adding to the pressure, Kelly’s attorney sent a letter to the Defense Department earlier this week warning that the senator is prepared to pursue legal action if the investigation into him continues, calling it politically motivated and unlawful. The clash highlights escalating tensions between the Pentagon and Democratic lawmakers as questions intensify over accountability, legality, and civilian harm tied to U.S. military actions in the region.