President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he would support the release of any video footage related to a military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean. This strike, which occurred on September 2, reportedly resulted in the deaths of two survivors. The incident has drawn significant scrutiny and prompted congressional investigations.

During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump responded to questions about the legality and accountability surrounding the strike. He stated, "I don’t know what they have, but whatever they have we’d certainly release, no problem." This statement came after a reporter noted that Trump had previously shared video of an earlier strike that killed 11 suspected members of a drug trafficking organization.

The White House has confirmed that a Navy admiral directed the second strike, countering earlier reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was responsible. Hegseth, who has faced criticism regarding the military's actions, stated that the decision to conduct the follow-up strike was justified. He emphasized that the military's operations aim to protect American lives, claiming, "Every boat we knock out, we save 25,000 American lives."

When pressed about whether Hegseth or Admiral Frank Bradley should face consequences if it is found that survivors were killed, Trump did not provide a direct answer. Instead, he reiterated his stance on the broader context of the military's actions, saying, "I think you’re going to find that this is war, that these people were killing our people by the millions."

The second strike has raised legal and ethical questions, with some lawmakers and legal experts suggesting that the killing of survivors could constitute a war crime. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the full, unedited video of the strikes to be released to the public.

As the scrutiny intensifies, Trump’s administration has faced bipartisan calls for greater oversight of military operations targeting drug smugglers. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the implications of these strikes, particularly regarding the potential for escalating conflict in the region.

In response to these concerns, a new war powers resolution has been introduced in Congress, aiming to limit Trump’s ability to engage U.S. forces in hostilities against Venezuela. This follows previous attempts that failed to gain sufficient support.

The Trump administration has conducted over 20 strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin American waters, aligning with its strategy to combat drug trafficking into the United States. As the situation develops, the release of the video footage may provide further clarity on the military's actions and the ongoing debate surrounding them.