The White House stated on Monday that Navy Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley acted “within his authority and the law” while issuing orders for a second strike on a ship accused of drug trafficking in the Caribbean in September. The operation is under bipartisan review, as lawmakers examine U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

Congressional Oversight and Public Scrutiny

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified the rationale behind the September 2 strike following reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had allegedly ordered the killing of survivors during a second attack. Leavitt indicated that Admiral Bradley is scheduled to provide a confidential briefing to lawmakers overseeing the military on Thursday. She emphasized that the admiral executed the operation “within his authority and the law” to neutralize the threat posed by the vessel.

Trump’s Response and White House Support

President Donald Trump, when questioned a day earlier about the incident, stated, “I did not want this, I did not want a second strike,” but the White House defended the decision. Leavitt affirmed that Hegseth granted Bradley full authority to carry out the kinetic operation, which successfully neutralized the vessel and the associated threat.

Defense Secretary Hegseth Backs Admiral

Later on Monday, Secretary Hegseth issued a statement praising Admiral Bradley as “an American hero, a true professional,” confirming his full support for all decisions made during the September 2 mission and subsequent actions. Hegseth’s statement underscores the Pentagon’s continued backing of the Navy’s operational decisions amid growing Congressional attention.