TRUMP says HEGSETH will decide whether to release boat strike video

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 -Donald Trump has announced that he will defer to Pete Hegseth — the Secretary of Defense — on whether the public will see the full video of a controversial military strike on a suspected drug‑smuggling boat off the coast of Venezuela on September 2. This marks a reversal from Trump’s earlier stance when he said the footage could be released without problem.

Hegseth himself has not committed to publishing the video. He said the Department of Defense is reviewing whether releasing the footage could jeopardize ongoing operations, meaning a final decision may take time.

The demand for transparency is mounting. Many lawmakers — from both parties — are pressing for unedited footage, while some in Congress are threatening to withhold part of the defense‑department travel budget if the video is not handed over.