Key Points
- White House confirms second strike on Caribbean drug boat that Pentagon called fake news
- CNN anchor calls reversal remarkable after Pentagon spokesman dismissed report days earlier
- Bipartisan congressional committees launch investigations into September attack on survivors
WASHINGTON, DC (TWE) — CNN anchor Jake Tapper expressed astonishment Monday after the White House confirmed key details of a bombshell Washington Post report about a September boat strike that Pentagon officials had dismissed as fabricated just days earlier.
Pentagon's Initial Denial Crumbles
The reversal came during a White House press briefing when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that a second strike did occur on September 2, targeting survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. This directly contradicted Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who had declared the entire narrative completely false and accused journalists of fabricating stories.
"Remarkable! The White House's acknowledgment of the double tap comes after Secretary Hegseth went on X and said that the stories were 'fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory.'"
White House Shifts Blame to Admiral
Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized Admiral Frank Bradley to conduct the kinetic strikes, but placed responsibility for the second attack squarely on Bradley. The admiral allegedly ordered the follow-up strike after two survivors were spotted clinging to the smoldering wreckage of the initial attack.
Tapper noted the dramatic shift in messaging from the administration, pointing out that the White House had now confirmed multiple details including the Hegseth order, the September 2 strike, and the double tap itself.
Trump Distances Himself From Decision
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would not have wanted a second strike, though he defended Hegseth and expressed confidence in his defense secretary. The president said Hegseth assured him he did not order the death of the two survivors.
Bipartisan Oversight Promised
The confirmation has intensified congressional scrutiny of the administration's Caribbean operations. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker and ranking member Jack Reed announced vigorous oversight into the matter. House Armed Services leaders Mike Rogers and Adam Smith issued a similar pledge for rigorous oversight.
Senator Tim Kaine said the reported actions rise to the level of a war crime if accurate. Former military lawyers have accused Hegseth of potential war crimes violations for the alleged orders.
The U.S. military has conducted over 20 strikes against alleged drug boats since September, killing more than 80 people the administration has labeled narco-terrorists.
Will congressional investigations hold administration officials accountable for the deadly Caribbean operations?
