Trump backs Hegseth as defense secretary denies ordering second strike on boat – US politics live

From 6h agoTrump 'wouldn't have wanted' second strike on Caribbean boatSpeaking to reporters on Air Force One yesterday, the president defended Hegseth, saying he believed his statement “100%” that he hadn’t ordered the second strike.“I’m going to find out about it, but Pete said he did not order the death of those two men.”When asked if he would have wanted a second attempt to kill the survivors, the president said: We’ll look into it, but no, I wouldn’t have wanted that – not a second strike. The first strike was very lethal.” The Washington Post reported that Hegseth “gave a spoken directive” to “kill everybody” on board in September. When there were still two men left after the first strike, a Special Operations commander ordered the follow-up to comply with Hegseth’s direction, the newspaper reported.Hegseth has strongly denied the report, calling it “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory”.He also said the US’s strikes on boats so far in the Caribbean had been “lawful under both US and international law”.Key events21m agoTrump says it's 'very important' for Israel to maintain a 'strong' dialogue with Syria1h agoAppeals court rules Alina Habba is serving unlawfully as top federal prosecutor2h agoTrump backs GOP candidate in Tennessee special election as race tightens3h agoTrump continues to lambast Democratic lawmakers over troops video3h agoTrump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner to meet with Putin in Moscow3h agoTrump invites families of national guard members shot in DC to the White House5h agoVenezuela called the strikes 'murder'5h agoDemocrats respond to reported Venezuela strike5h agoRepublican-led committees launching investigations6h agoTrump 'wouldn't have wanted' second strike on Caribbean boat6h agoTrump backs Hegseth amid report of repeated strike on boatShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureRichard LuscombeDonald Trump has said he will release the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan conducted during his surprise “semiannual physical” in October – but was unable to tell reporters what part of his body was under investigation.The oldest-ever US president faced questions over the procedure on Air Force One as he traveled back to Washington DC on Sunday night after a Thanksgiving break in Florida. It is the latest episode of recurring concern about the cognitive abilities and mental fitness of the 79-year-old, who insisted he had “aced” earlier tests relating to his brain functioning.Asked if he would make public the outcome of the scan, Trump said: “If you want to have it released, I’ll release it.” He asserted that the result was “perfect” even though he admitted again he had “no idea” what part of his body was scanned.“It was just an MRI,” he said. “What part of the body? It wasn’t the brain because I took a cognitive test, and I aced it.”Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. Photograph: Alex Brandon/APTrump was similarly vague about the scan after his 10 October visit to the Walter Reed national military medical center, which was portrayed by Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, at the time as a “routine yearly checkup”, even though he had his annual physical in April.“I have no idea what they analyze, but whatever they analyze, they analyzed it well and they said that I had as good a result as they’ve ever seen,” he said in November. “The doctor said it was the best result he has ever seen as a doctor.”The FBI director, Kash Patel, is “in over his head” and leading a “chronically under-performing” agency paralyzed by fear and plummeting morale, according to a scathing 115-page report compiled by a national alliance of retired and active-duty FBI special agents and analysts.The leaked assessment, obtained by the New York Post and prepared for both congressional Senate and House judiciary committees, is based on confidential accounts from 24 FBI sources.Kash Patel speaks during a press conference about the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC, 27 November 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/ReutersThey accuse Patel of lacking the experience to lead the FBI and that managers will not take initiative without explicit direction for fear of being fired. Patel’s first six months have produced a “troubling picture” of an organization described by insiders as a “rudderless ship”, with two sources independently characterizing the director as being “in over his head”. One stated he “lacks the requisite knowledge or deep understanding of all the FBI’s unique and complex investigative and intelligence programs”.One key accusation is that the FBI has become “internally paralyzed by fear”. Managers are “afraid of losing their jobs”, and “waiting on directions from the FBI director” rather than taking initiative, according to multiple sources.The assessment comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding Patel’s tenure. Before his February 2025 confirmation, nearly 60 civil rights organizations urged the Senate to reject his nomination because of his lack of experience, foreign ties and misleading statements. Since taking office, he has faced criticism for refusing to release Jeffrey Epstein files and for prematurely announcing an arrest in the Kirk investigation that had to be retracted.Trump says it's 'very important' for Israel to maintain a 'strong' dialogue with SyriaDonald Trump said today that it is “very important” for Israel to maintain “a strong and true dialogue with Syria”. In a post on Truth Social, he added it was vital that “nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State”.In November, Trump met with Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House – the first visit of its kind. Today, Trump noted that al-Sharaa is “working diligently to make sure good things happen”, and that both “Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together”.Trump’s comments today come after a military operation by Israel in southern Syria over the weekend, where 13 people were killed, in an attempt to capture two leaders of an Islamist militant group who were allegedly plotting an attack on Israel.Appeals court rules Alina Habba is serving unlawfully as top federal prosecutorA federal appeals court ruled today that Trump’s personal lawyer, Alina Habba, is serving unlawfully as the US attorney for the district of New Jersey.Alina Habba speaks after being sworn in as interim US Attorney General for New Jersey, in the Oval Office, 28 March 2025. Photograph: APThe third circuit rejected a challenge from the justice department to keep Habba in her position, upholding a lower court’s decision that she was disqualified from serving in the role. A reminder that Habba was not confirmed by the Senate to her position, but installed through a Department of Justice maneuver after she failed to secure an appointment by federal district court judges.This is the second blow to the Trump administration’s top federal prosecutor picks. Last week, a federal judge ruled that Lindsey Halligan, the interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, was unlawfully appointed. It meant that the cases Halligan brought against Trump adversaries, James Comey and Letitia James, were ultimately thrown out.As Pete Hegseth continues to face scrutiny following a Washington Post report that he “gave a spoken directive” on 2 September to “kill everybody” on board in a second strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel, the defense secretary appeared glib on social media.He posted a picture on Sunday evening, which shows a parody cover of a Franklin the Turtle book, where the beloved character is shooting small boats below him filled with men transporting drugs. “For your Christmas wish list,” Hegseth captioned the illustration.The defense secretary continues to deny the Post’s claims. “As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland,” he wrote in a statement on Friday.Trump backs GOP candidate in Tennessee special election as race tightensOver the weekend, the president threw his weight behind Matt Van Epps, the Republican candidate in the special election in Tennessee’s seventh congressional district. Van Epps is running against Aftyn Behn – a Democratic state representative – to replace former GOP congressman Mark Green. A reminder, that Trump carried the district by 22 points in 2024, but after the success of November’s elections for Democrats across the country, the party is hoping to flip the Maga stronghold. Matt Van Epps casts his ballot at an early voting site in the special election for the seventh district, 12 November 2025. Photograph: George Walker IV/AP“HE WILL BE A GREAT CONGRESSMAN,” Trump said of Van Epps on Truth Social, adding that while he “cherishes Christianity and Country Music”, his opponent “hates them both”. This comes after Republicans have criticized Behn for resurfaced comments on a 2020 podcast. “I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music,” she said of Nashville, which is part of the district she’s running to represent.Aftyn Behn speaks at a rally in Nashville, Tennessee, 29 November 2025. Photograph: Ray Di Pietro/ShutterstockMy colleague, Chris Stein, reports that a survey from Emerson College Polling and the Hill found Van Epps up by just two percentage points over Behn, leading with 48% support to her 46%. He adds that the district is mostly made up of the sort of rural territory in which Democrats have struggled to compete, but also includes part of blue-leaning Nashville, as well as the city of Clarksville, a swing area whose residents may well decide the race.Read Chris’ full report below.Trump continues to lambast Democratic lawmakers over troops videoThe president has picked up where he left off before Thanksgiving, when it comes to his anger at the six Democratic lawmakers who took part in a video urging service members to “refuse illegal orders”.A reminder, that Trump initially went on a Truth Social tirade, accusing the members of Congress (all of whom are veterans or former intelligence officials) of sedition, adding that their actions are “punishable by death”.In the early hours of Monday morning (12:45am ET to be precise) Trump recounted the US Code, including a section which calls for the fine or imprisonment, for up to 10 years, for those who “interfere, impair, influence the loyalty, moral or discipline of the military and naval forces”.“DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE!!!,” Trump concluded on social media today.Trump's envoys Witkoff and Kushner to meet with Putin in MoscowDonald Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. He’ll be joined by the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who has been integral in the ongoing negotiations with Russia. This comes after a Bloomberg report from last week included a leaked transcript between Witkoff and a senior Moscow official, about how Russia could curry favor with Donald Trump.Meanwhile, in Paris, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and France’s president Emanuel Macron met today.“Peace must become truly durable. The war must end as soon as possible. Much now depends on the involvement of every leader,” Zelenksyy wrote on social media following their closed-door discussion. “We will also be speaking with other leaders today,” he added.My colleague, Jakub Krupa, is covering the latest developments at our dedicated live blog below.Trump invites families of national guard members shot in DC to the White HouseAfter two members of the West Virginia national guard were shot in DC last week, the president has invited their families to the White House.One soldier, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, was killed in the attack –which took place the day before Thanksgiving. Her fellow service member, US air force staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Vigils across West Virginia have taken place in their memory.“I said: ‘When you’re ready, because that’s a tough thing, come to the White House. We’re going to honor Sarah,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday. “And likewise with Andrew, recover or not.”My colleague, Marina Dunbar, reports that mourners came together over the weekend at Webster County high school in West Virginia to honor Beckstrom. Both she and Wolfe had been serving with the West Virginia national guard as part of Trump’s federal initiative to support policing efforts in DC.Donald Trump is back in Washington today. As of now, he doesn’t have any public events scheduled. At 4pm ET he’ll sign congressional bills, but that’s currently closed to the press.We will, however, hear from White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, at 1pm ET. She’s due to hold a briefing with reporters, and we’ll be bringing you the latest as it happens.Venezuela called the strikes 'murder'Venezuela’s National Assembly has accused the US of committing “murder” with the strikes. It is one of the first acknowledgements by Venezuelan officials that their citizens have been targeted.“There’s no declared war [between the US and Venezuela)] therefore this cannot be classified as anything but murder,” Jorge Rodriguez, the National Assembly president, told a press conference on Sunday.“Every human being has the right to due process; no human being can be killed in a brutal manner.”Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro (right) speaks with National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez (centre) and vice president Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas last week. EPA/MIGUEL GUTIERREZ Photograph: Miguel Gutiérrez/EPADemocrats respond to reported Venezuela strikeSenator Mark Kelly: “We’re going to have a public hearing. We’re going to put these folks under oath. And we’re going to find out what happened. And then, there needs to be accountability.”He also told CNN: “If what has been reported is accurate, I have got serious concerns about anybody in that chain of command stepping over a line that they should never step over.”Senator Chris Van Hollen: “I think it’s very possible there was a war crime committed.”Frances MaoAnd a quick reminder of the background to US strikes in these waters:Since September, the US has expanded its naval presence in the region, carrying out strikes on what it says are drug-smuggling boats in waters off Venezuela and Colombia.More than 80 people have been killed according to the US Defence Department.The US has said it is destroying boats bringing in harmful drugs, and thus its attacks are launched out of self-defence – a legal justification for military attacks under international laws of armed conflict.But it has provided scant evidence of the alleged criminality of the boats, and has also declined to provide identification details of the people it has killed on board the boats.Venezuela’s National Assembly has accused the US of committing “murder” with the strikes.The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk has said there’s “strong evidence” such strikes constitute extrajudicial killings. He’s been calling for Congress investigate.The reports then from the weekend add another layer of suspected illegality. The Washington Post reports that the US navy on 2 September struck a drug-running vessel, killing some of the 11 on board in the first strike. After commanders saw on the live drone feed that there were still two survivors clinging to the wreck, they executed an order to strike again, to kill all those on board.Follow-up strikes are forbidden under the rules of war and engagement, i.e. what is legal fighting between parties in a conflict.Clauses in the the Geneva Conventions also forbid the targeting of wounded participants, saying that those participants should instead be shielded, rescued and if applicable, treated as prisoners of war with relevant rights.Republican-led committees launching investigationsThere’s been a swift response from lawmakers following the reports. Republican-led committees overseeing the Pentagon have vowed to conduct “vigorous oversight” into the boat strikes. Senate Armed Services Committee:“Has directed inquiries to the Department, and we will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances”. House Armed Services Committee: “Is taking bipartisan action to gather a full accounting of the operation in question”. And lawmakers on both sides, speaking on talk shows on Sunday, called for congressional review.“This rises to the level of a war crime if it’s true,” said Democrat Senator Tim Kaine on CBS’s Face the Nation programme.Republican lawmaker Mike Turner said Congress did not know yet if the report of the follow-up strike was true.“Obviously if that occurred, that would be very serious, and I agree that that would be an illegal act,” said Turner, a former chairman of the Intelligence Committee.Trump 'wouldn't have wanted' second strike on Caribbean boatSpeaking to reporters on Air Force One yesterday, the president defended Hegseth, saying he believed his statement “100%” that he hadn’t ordered the second strike.“I’m going to find out about it, but Pete said he did not order the death of those two men.”When asked if he would have wanted a second attempt to kill the survivors, the president said: We’ll look into it, but no, I wouldn’t have wanted that – not a second strike. The first strike was very lethal.” The Washington Post reported that Hegseth “gave a spoken directive” to “kill everybody” on board in September. When there were still two men left after the first strike, a Special Operations commander ordered the follow-up to comply with Hegseth’s direction, the newspaper reported.Hegseth has strongly denied the report, calling it “fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory”.He also said the US’s strikes on boats so far in the Caribbean had been “lawful under both US and international law”.Trump backs Hegseth amid report of repeated strike on boatGood morning and welcome to our US politics live blog.We’re straight back in the thick of it after Thanksgiving: lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are demanding answers from the Trump administration after reports defense secretary Peter Hegseth ordered a double-tap strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat off the coast of Venezuela, killing two people on board who had survived the first blast.The allegations, first reported in the Washington Post on Friday, have sparked calls from Congress for an immediate investigation.Hegseth, who calls himself the secretary for war on X, has called it “fake news” and Donald Trump says he believes him.But Congress is alarmed. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers raised concerns at the weekend that if the reports were true, such attacks would be war crimes.