Once-again embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted a meme to seemingly defend himself from war crimes allegations over his orders to strike two survivors of a missile attack.

The Washington Post reported last week that Hegseth verbally ordered a follow-on attack Sept. 2 of two survivors clinging to wreckage of a bombed boat that administration officials say was smuggling drugs from Venezuela to the U.S., and that led a military commander to carry out the second strike.

Hegseth did not directly contradict the newspaper's reporting, which was based on claims by a number of sources familiar with the matter and came a week after Democratic lawmakers recorded a video reminding service members of their duty to disobey unlawful orders, but called the allegations “fabricated and inflammatory.”

President Donald Trump seemingly distanced himself from Hegseth in comments Sunday evening aboard Air Force One, saying he "wouldn’t have wanted a second strike," but insisted he maintained confidence for the self-styled secretary of war, who baffled many by posting a meme around the same time the president was speaking.

"For your Christmas wish list…," Hegseth posted on X at 7:37 p.m. EST Sunday, showing an altered cover of a children's book series depicting a situation similar to military operations the Trump administration says it's carrying out in Central America.

The image posted by Hegseth shows Franklin the Turtle wearing combat great and firing a bazooka from a helicopter on boats in the water below, titled, "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists."

The defense secretary's post spurred strong criticism about his judgment.

"Trump just claimed hours ago that Hegseth told him he didn't order the killing of that boat crew in the Caribbean," posted MS NOW producer Kyle Griffith.

"Are we going to be a country that lets a person meme and shitpost his way out of accountability for alleged war crimes, or do some things still matter?" asked The Bulwark's Sarah Longwell.

"He’s posting throu it," marveled writer Molly Jong-Fast.

"There is something very wrong with the secretary of defense," cringed The Atlantic's Tom Nichols.

"When you know you’re getting a pardon, you’re not afraid of anything," grumbled Bluesky user Andy.

"Secretary of war crimes!" barked Alexander Vindman, former national security council staffer.

"Jesus. The immaturity and lack of professionalism never stop," sighed Blueseky user Ex-expat. "And yet, this unserious person is running the military."

"Before you ask, yes apparently this is real," added Bluesky user Travis Reese. "He must be taking comedy lessons and substances from Elon."

President Donald Trump seemingly distanced himself from the latest controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The self-styled secretary of war reportedly ordered a second missile strike on two alleged smugglers who survived an attack on a boat administration officials say was carrying drugs from Venezuela to the U.S., and many military and legal experts say Hegseth's "no quarter" order violated international and U.S. laws.

"I don’t know that that happened and Pete said he did not want them, even know what people were talking about, so we'll look in –we'll look into it," Trump told reporters. "But no, I wouldn’t have wanted a second strike. The first strike was very lethal, it was fine, and if there were two people around, but Pete said that didn't happen. I have great confidence."

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH), former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, joined with Democratic lawmakers in condemning Hegseth's alleged "kill everyone" follow-on order as illegal, and social media users highlighted Trump's comments as a significant break from his frequently embattled Pentagon chief.

"Pete Hegseth, you in danger, girl," warned X user Keith Edwards.

"Trump beginning the process of throwing Hegseth under the bus," noted former Republican strategist Cheri Jacobus.

"Translation: Pete may well go down for this. But I’m not going with him," agreed civil rights lawyer Sherilynn Ifill.

"President Trump says he would not have wanted the second strike," said Just Security's Ryan Goodman. "POTUS's only defense of Hegseth is claim that Hegseth supposedly said he didn't order it."

"Unless Trump gave the operational order for the second strike he can underbus Hegseth and still do whatever war he’s doing, the principle is not 'we’re not at war' it’s 'you can’t do this in war,'" argued post malone ergo propter malone.

"Interesting. So even Trump is saying a second strike would be wrong," opined Marine veteran Stan R. Mitchell. "Hegseth better hope the facts are on his side here."

"This is a major development and Hegseth just got hung out to dry," posted widely followed Blueskey user Chele Lea. "Trump said he didn’t want nor order the second strike on that Venezuelan boat. That’s HUGE. That’s Trump saying Hegseth acted alone. Trump always protects Trump his entire cabinet just got a wake-up call. Smart of Trump’s handlers."

President Donald Trump crowed about the "magnificent" ballroom he's planning at the White House, prompting a wave of outraged reactions.

The president set off shockwaves by abruptly demolishing the East Wing last month in preparation for the ballroom he's been musing about, and he hyped his plans Sunday night on Truth Social after a report last week showed him at odds with architect James McCrery II over the size and scale of the project.

"The Presidential Ballroom, which I am building at the White House, with all private donations and funding (ZERO cost to the American Taxpayer!), will be, at its completion, the most beautiful and spectacular Ballroom anywhere in the World!" Trump boasted. "It is something that has been needed and desired at the White House for over 150 years, but something which no other President was equipped to do — But I am, and as long as we are going to do it, we are going to do it RIGHT. It will be a magnificent addition to the White House, the most important since the building of the West Wing!

Trump statement on Truth Social posted Nov. 30, 2025 at 5:58 p.m. EST

Other social media users offered reactions, fact checks and other commentary.

"I must have missed Trump on the campaign trail saying that building a ballroom at the White House was one of his top priorities," posted NBC News reporter Lawrence Hurley.

"That's all well and good, but it does nothing for me or other ordinary taxpayers," opined widely followed Bluesky user Kween Cassie. "Make groceries affordable again."

"If these patriots are so eager to throw money at the government for nonsense why not just Tax Them," replied popular Bluesky user Rich Traditions.

"Your grocery bills are through the roof and all he cares about is his stupid ballroom – that’s the crux of it," posted Bluesky user Micah.

"What he cares about is that HIS BALLROOM WASN'T BIG ENOUGH," agreed researcher Torbjörn Björkman. "If your opposition can't make political hay of that, you are beyond all help."

"Historically, a downtrodden working class loves luxurious new buildings they never get access to," noted statistician Mollz. "I mean historically this always ends well."

"Does anyone know how he settled on this 150 years line?" asked writer Tim Price. "What happened during Ulysses Grant's second term that made everyone say 'You know what this place could use? A ballroom bigger than the rest of the building.'"

"He’ll make up some shit story, like Abraham Lincoln wanted a ballroom, as did every president since," said Bluesky user LouFromBoston. "We have a crazy person in the WH and no one knows what to do about it."

"It's okay for some campaign promises to be about optics rather than policy," argued writer Mark Harris. "'We're going to bulldoze his monument to himself on Day One and rebuild the East Wing' would be a very good one for 2028."

"I never heard in my 7 decades ANYONE say the WH needed a ballroom decorated w hardware store curlicues painted gold," added Deborah Witherspoon McFatter.