WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump met cabinet officials Tuesday, largely defending controversial military strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats off of Venezuela's coast carried out back in September.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who the Trump administration now references as War Secretary, said he watched the first strike on the alleged boat live. Advertisement

Hegseth further explained that he did not witness the controversial second strike , which reportedly killed survivors of the initial attack and raised subsequent questions of violating wartime laws. Still, he insisted the Navy admiral who ordered the strike had "complete authority" and made the "right call."

"I did not personally see survivors," Hegseth said when asked about his participation during the incident. "That

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