Full video of Venezuela drug boat strikes will not be made public, Hegseth says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 10:20 AM, Dec 16, 2025 and last updated 45 minutes ago


As Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was on Capitol Hill to address recent strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats off the coast of Venezuela, he told reporters that full videos of the strikes will not be made public, calling them "top secret."

That announcement comes despite President Donald Trump previously stating he would have no objection to releasing the videos. The strikes were conducted at the direction Hegseth after intelligence confirmed the vessels were engaged in narco-trafficking, according to U.S. Southern Command.

The briefing comes amid ongoing scrutiny over a September 2nd strike that reportedly had survivors and was followed by a second strike, leading to accusations of potential war crime violations. Hegseth said that members of Congress would have an opportunity to see the video in a classified setting.

The operation has now resulted in 95 deaths total since it began, raising questions about the scope and objectives of the military campaign. Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are scheduled to provide a classified briefing to Congress today, marking the first opportunity for many rank-and-file members to receive detailed information about the operations beyond what has been publicly reported.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/the-president/congress-questions-hegseth-on-drug-boat-deaths-as-venezuela-military-operations-expand

[Irish_Dem]

1. Killers murdering in cold blood get to hide the evidence legally.

Calling it top secret.

Perfect gig for a crime syndicate.

[GiqueCee]

15. And here I thought...

... the military was ultimately under civilian control. Guess not.
Karma's got you in its crosshairs, Hogsbreath. And you ain't gonna outrun it. Will it be a poorly aimed axe, or a skateboard that takes him out? News at 11.

[surfered]

2. Because it would prove what's been reported.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

6. Yep

[GreenWave]

3. Not until AI can make it look like a sane reaction on our part.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. That video is evidence of a war crime or murder

Hegseth and other should worry about the video being used as evidence against them

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

5. Why not?

[hlthe2b]

7. Oh, I don't know Hegseth. A military trial or war crimes tribunal may well remain in your future and those videos

WILL be Exhibit 1.

[gohuskies]

8. Kegsbreath is simply obstructing justice again

This incompetent nincompoop is so far out of his league. The country much less secure while he conducts war crimes and forces out the best military commanders leading the US armed forces. He needs to be tossed out on his rear end asap.

[Paladin]

9. Why would we expect any better, at this point? (nt)

[ScratchCat]

10. There is no other option at this point

Than impeachment and removal of Hegseth and Trump. Democrats have to make this a line in the sand. The fact that they didn't call these strikes illegal and unconstitutional immediately upon the first one is mind boggling. You can't bomb boats in international waters based upon "suspicion". For the love of God, what the hell is wrong with people?

[Ray Bruns]

11. Hegseth has released the official unaltered version of the video.

[chowder66]

12. Cover UP!

[Grokenstein]

13. Yeah, I'm sure there's classified info in those videos. Lots of it. /sarcasm

If they DID contain classified data, the boozer would've posted them online already.

[bluestarone]

14. I'm thinking he is 100% wrong.

At some point in time ALL these videos WILL be public material. Just not now at this moment!

[Evolve Dammit]

16. What a sickening joke you have made the US, Mister Hegseth. In just 11 months. Treason and war crimes in your future.

[sakabatou]

17. So... we actually have an official cover-up.

[Martin68]

18. Who cares or believes anything Hegseth says?

[JohnnyRingo]

19. I bet Rubio sat him down and explained he's making his job harder.

The whole episode is a diplomatic disaster. Making the crimes available for all to see only hurts our standing as a nation.
Call it damage control and we'll see how long the pointless siege continues.

[moniss]

20. Yellow streak a mile wide. nt

[moondust]

21. Classification abuse.

If the other strikes weren't classified then this one isn't either. He's just classifying this obvious case of murder to cover up his serious crime.

[usonian]

22. Classification by someone who couldn't get a clearance for his alcohol abuse.

[Aussie105]

23. I'd love to see his school reports when he was young.

Might mention 'beats up smaller kids for their lunch money.'

If so:
Still a bully, just has bigger toys to play with now.

Blowing up random boats in international waters and trying to make it 'top secret' sounds just like something a bully would do.

Fog of War? Yeah, Nah!

[COL Mustard]

24. What are we hiding?

It must be pretty bad.

We all know it'll leak someday.