Questions grow over White House’s shifting account of deadly boat strikes

The White House confirmed Monday that a second U.S. military strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean did occur, saying Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley authorized it and was “well within his authority.” The acknowledgment contradicts earlier denials from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously dismissed reports of a follow-up strike that allegedly targeted survivors of the first attack.

The clarification sparked immediate backlash online, with critics accusing the Trump administration of shifting blame and obscuring who actually ordered the second strike. Commentators noted that Trump had said he “would not have wanted” a second strike, raising questions about whether he and Hegseth were unaware of actions taken by U.S. forces—or whether the White House is now distancing them from potential wrongdoing. Lawmakers and veterans demanded transparency and called for the release of unredacted footage, timelines, and communications tied to the incident.