The Trump administration is facing explosive allegations that it is attempting to make a decorated Navy SEAL commander the fall guy for a controversial military strike, in order to shield War Secretary Pete Hegseth from scrutiny. The incident, which involved a second missile attack on a boat allegedly smuggling drugs, has sparked fears of a potential war crime and ignited fury within the Pentagon's top ranks.
The Controversial 'Double-Tap' Strike
According to a report in The Washington Post, the controversy centres on a military engagement on September 2, 2025. American forces initially struck a boat in the Caribbean Sea, which President Donald Trump claimed was smuggling drugs for the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua. The operation took a drastic turn when a follow-up missile strike was ordered, targeting the wreckage and the survivors of the first hit.
This second strike, described as a "double-tap," resulted in the deaths of all 11 passengers on the vessel. The Post reported that the order for the fatal follow-up was given pursuant to a verbal command from Secretary Hegseth to "kill everyone." The revelation has triggered alarm among leaders of the House and Senate armed services committees, who note that targeting shipwrecked survivors is widely considered a violation of international law and a potential war crime.
White House Response and Pentagon Fury
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the reporting. In a prepared statement, she defended the actions of Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley, the commanding officer who oversaw the mission carried out by the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Leavitt stated Bradley had "worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed" when he ordered the second attack.
She asserted the strikes were "conducted in international waters and in accordance with the law of armed conflict," and that no laws were violated. However, this defence has reportedly incensed senior Pentagon officials. One unnamed official bluntly characterised the White House's position as "'protect Pete' bullshit," according to the Post. Another accused the administration of "throwing us, the service members, under the bus" as Congress prepares to investigate.
Congressional Scrutiny and Mounting Fallout
The political fallout is escalating rapidly. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters he has spoken with Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff chair General Dan Caine, and plans to speak with Admiral Bradley. "We're going to find out what the true facts are," Wicker stated, signalling a determined congressional probe.
In a late attempt at damage control, Secretary Hegseth took to social media platform X to praise Admiral Bradley, calling him "an American hero, a true professional." Hegseth wrote that he stood by Bradley "and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since." Despite this show of support, congressional leaders appear unsatisfied, with the focus firmly on the chain of command and the legality of the orders that led to the lethal strike.
The situation places a harsh spotlight on Admiral Bradley, a Naval Academy graduate and veteran of the secretive SEAL teams who was among the first U.S. service members in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks. He now finds himself at the centre of a major political and legal storm, with his career and reputation potentially on the line as the White House and Congress clash over the incident.
