President Trump on Sunday downplayed reports that his defense secretary ordered military members to strike a suspected drug boat a second time after an initial strike failed to kill two crewmen.
Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as congressional lawmakers in both parties demand a full accounting of the incident.
“I don’t know anything about it. He said he did not say that, and I believe him,” Mr. Trump said. “We’ll look into it.”
Mr. Trump said he “wouldn’t have wanted” the military to issue a second strike against survivors of an initial strike. Critics of the president said the incident, if what was reported is true, would amount to a war crime.
“Pete said that did not happen,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
Mr. Trump defended his team amid broader debate about his decision to strike suspected drug smugglers in Caribbean waters as part of a pressure campaign on Venezuela and its strongman leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Some U.S. and foreign lawmakers have questioned whether Mr. Trump is acting within legal authorities or ordering extrajudicial killings. Others have asked why the boats are demolished instead of intercepted at sea, so authorities can prosecute alleged smugglers and gain intelligence about co-conspirators from them.
Mr. Trump on Sunday confirmed he had a phone call with Mr. Maduro but would not comment further.
The president is also concerned about drug smugglers by air.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety,” he posted on Truth Social over the weekend, emphasizing the latter part of the post in all capital letters.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter!” He concluded..
Asked on Sunday whether that meant strikes are imminent, Mr. Trump said: “Don’t read anything into it.”
