Overview
- After saying last week the tape would be released, President Trump now says the decision rests with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and denies promising publication.
- Hegseth, Gen. Dan Caine and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are slated to brief the congressional Gang of Eight today on the strikes and broader national security strategy, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe also expected, according to CNN.
- Lawmakers who viewed the video privately described it as deeply disturbing and urged a public release, while Hegseth says a review is underway to safeguard sources and methods.
- The boat-strike campaign has killed at least 87 people and destroyed 23 vessels, and the administration has told Congress it views the effort as an “armed conflict” against cartels, labeling those killed “unlawful combatants.”
- Trump declined to rule out deploying U.S. troops to Venezuela and said he would consider extending anti-drug operations to targets in Mexico and Colombia.