A classified briefing for US senators on military operations in the Caribbean descended into a heated exchange on Tuesday, pitting Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. The confrontation centred on a controversial series of American boat strikes targeting vessels from Venezuela.
Lawful Orders and a Heated Exchange
According to three senators present, as reported by Punchbowl, the clash occurred after Secretary Hegseth invoked the distinction between lawful and unlawful orders while responding to Senator Kelly's pointed questions. Kelly, seated in the front row, had been pressing for operational details about the strikes.
Hegseth's argument appeared to reference an ongoing Pentagon investigation into a video recorded by Kelly and other Democratic lawmakers. In that video, the politicians urged military personnel not to follow unlawful orders. As Hegseth began criticising Kelly over the recording, the Arizona senator interrupted, insisting his question was unrelated to that matter.
Lawmakers Demand Transparency on Strikes
The briefing, delivered by Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on December 16, 2025, was convened amid growing congressional pressure for clarity. Lawmakers are seeking full transparency on the tactics and strategic goals of a mission involving consistent strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean.
The administration faces mounting questions over 25 US strikes on 26 vessels, which have resulted in at least 95 fatalities. Crucially, the government has yet to provide public evidence proving the targets were engaged in drug trafficking. It has also failed to explain why boats were not stopped and boarded, or why suspects could not be apprehended and prosecuted instead of being killed without trial.
Divided Reactions and Further Scrutiny
Reactions from senators after the closed-door meeting highlighted a stark partisan divide. Republican Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana defended the process used in the September strikes, calling it "legally sound" and noting such actions have been "supported by legal opinions for a quarter century."
In contrast, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of arriving "empty-handed" and reiterated calls for "full transparency" about the operation. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham expressed confusion over the strategic endgame, stating, "I want to know what's going to happen next. Is it the policy to take [Venezuelan dictator Nicolas] Maduro down? It should be if it's not."
The controversy is set for further examination. Additional briefings are scheduled with the House and Senate Armed Services committees, where members with top-level security clearances will finally view a controversial September 2 video of a double-strike. This footage, which some analysts believe may show a violation of international law, has been denied to other congressional colleagues and the American public.
