White House says second strike on vessel was legal and conducted in 'self defense' amid scrutiny - live

[mysteryowl]

Self Defense!! No one believes that.
How could it be self defense against a fishing boat.
Liars!!


Live online stream from white house presser at below link.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/dec/01/donald-trump-pete-hegseth-caribbean-boats-venezuela-immigration-us-politics-latest-news-updates

[Ocelot II]

1. Self defense against a fishing boat? Were they throwing harpoons?

[mysteryowl]

2. Plus, they have not said what happened against the US from that target

[Deuxcents]

3. Self defense against 2 people hanging on to a burning boat for dear life..got it.

[mysteryowl]

5. exactly! That 2nd missile

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. 2 individuals are clinging to the wreckage of a boat that was just blown apart by

a US missile and the 2nd strike is labeled as a self defense strike?
Self defense against what?
These 2 guys were just trying to survive an illegal attack against their boat.

[Deuxcents]

6. This admin's credibility, even if only a sliver of it was left, is bankrupt. Heads should roll from the top down

[MarineCombatEngineer]

7. This is starting to blow up spectacularly against Pedonald and Kegsbreath,

strap in, hold on tight, things are about to get very interesting.
Even the repigs in Congress are questioning this murder of 2 individuals.

i'm not holding my breath, but this could very well be the end of Kegsbreath and those that chose to obey such an illegal order.

[Norrrm]

8. Two guys bobbing in the water, hanging onto debris were an active threat, needing obliteration?

Got it.

Warfighting in the age of Trump/Hegseth.

[Norrrm]

12. If Hegseth did not give the second strike order, who did?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

14. Supposedly Admiral Frank M."Mitch" Bradley,

but he wouldn't have ordered it w/o the approval from Kegsbreath, that doesn't excuse him following this blatantly illegal order to murder 2 crew members, which goes against the UCMJ, the Geneva Convention and every fucking Maritime Law in existence.

[Norrrm]

16. Aye! Let's see who Trump/Hegseth throw under the bus.

[Progressive dog]

9. So people hanging from debris

to stay afloat are a threat. That was murder.

[Biophilic]

10. Good grief, they have dug as deep as they can and that is what they come up with?

Is there anyone competent in this administration? What freakin’ idiots. Self defense??? It was the remains of a motor boat with two wounded men clinging to it and we had a big navy ship. I had no idea our sailors were so fearful. If I were a sailor right now I’d be spitting mad.

[Jrose]

11. Actually, I think that those two survivors were killed so that Hegseth and his criminal cohorts could

try to 'defend' themselves by preventing any remaining witnesses from revealing the horrible truth about the savage genocide that resulted from illegal orders.

[Vinca]

13. The self-defense must be there was no defense if they people were picked up alive and were fishermen.

Everyone from Trump on down to the drone operator should be tried for murder.

[Disaffected]

15. What twaddle.

In all likelihood, the motive was to get rid of any "witnesses".

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Since when was flotsam considered a weapon?

[John1956PA]

18. Here are five ridiculous excuses which Trump and Hegseth have offered.

Five statements issued by Hegseth, the Department of War or Trump regarding the September 2, 2025, strike on the two survivors clinging to boat wreckage following the first strike:

1. "The first strike was intended to be lethal and kinetic." (Hegseth)
2. "I did not give the order kill everyone " (Hegseth).
3. "The second strike was to assure the survivors could not call on their confederates to rescue them and to retrieve their cargo, which would have promoted drug trafficking and which would have constituted a navigation hazard." (Department of War)
4. "Fake news!' (Hegseth)
5. "The survivors were killed in self-defense." (White House)

[Ritabert]

19. Self defense against guys clinging to wreckage in shark-infested waters???

I don't think so.

[TheBlackAdder]

20. Keep yapping. Everything you say will be brought at your Hague trial.

[Zackzzzz]

21. Up is down, In is out.

Self protection for the White House, not the fisherman.