WaPo: Hegseth Ordered Boat-Strike Crew to 'Kill' Everyone
Citing two anonymous sources, the Post reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth gave a verbal order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat on Sept. 2, and that a follow-up strike that killed two survivors was carried out to comply.
The reported order cast a Trump cabinet member as directing the killing of survivors.
What was reported
Citing two anonymous sources, the Post reported that Defense Secretary Hegseth gave a verbal order to kill everyone aboard a suspected drug boat on Sept. 2, and that a follow-up strike that killed two survivors was carried out to comply.
What actually happened
The follow-up strike did happen. In a closed briefing on Dec. 4, 2025, Adm. Frank Bradley, who ordered it, told lawmakers that Hegseth had given no order to kill everyone or to give no quarter. Lawmakers from both parties, including Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. Jim Himes, relayed that account. The New York Times separately reported that Hegseth authorized a lethal strike but not the killing of survivors. The Pentagon called on the Post to retract, and the Post stood by its reporting.
The proof
Adm. Bradley's account to lawmakers, as relayed by members of both parties, which contradicts the specific order the Post reported. No record of the alleged order has been produced.
The receipt. Copy this and paste it anywhere:
WaPo: Hegseth Ordered Boat-Strike Crew to 'Kill' Everyone — Unproven. Adm. Bradley's account to lawmakers, as relayed by members of both parties, which contradicts the specific order the Post reported. No record of the alleged order has been produced. Full file: https://www.thepropagandafiles.com/case/wapo-hegseth-kill-them-all-boat-strike/
Original reporting
- Washington Post: Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike (Nov. 28, 2025)https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/
Corrections, findings & records
- The National News Desk: Navy admiral tells lawmakers there was no 'kill them all' orderhttps://wjla.com/news/nation-world/navy-admiral-frank-bradley-who-ordered-attack-killing-alleged-drug-boat-strike-survivors-to-brief-lawmakers-caribbean-classified-defense-secretary-hegseth
- Fox News: Washington Post stands by report despite testimony denialhttps://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-post-stands-hegseth-kill-them-all-report-boat-strike-despite-testimony-denial
Archived copies
Stories get edited after publication. These open the Internet Archive's earliest saved copy of each original.
- Archived copy: Washington Post: Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike (Nov. 28, 2025)https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/28/hegseth-kill-them-all-survivors-boat-strike/