<p>ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl spent part of Sunday morning&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;This Week&#8221; talking about a Washington Post hit piece attacking War Secretary Pete Hegseth.</p>
<p>The story in question alleged that Hegseth had ordered a second strike on a boat full of narco-terrorists when the first had left two survivors.</p>
<p>Hegseth responded to the story in a <a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/1994552598142038358">lengthy post</a> on X, saying in part, &#8220;As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland. As we’ve said from the beginning, and in every statement, these highly effective strikes are specifically intended to be &#8216;lethal, kinetic strikes.&#8217; The declared intent is to stop lethal drugs, destroy narco-boats, and kill the narco-terrorists who are poisoning the American people. Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization.&#8221;</p>
<p>But when Karl raised the issue on Sunday morning, he opted to speak instead with ABC&#8217;s global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz, who has reported extensively on the military but has never served herself.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Did those two men clinging to the side of the boat pose an imminent threat?”<a href="https://twitter.com/MarthaRaddatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarthaRaddatz</a> weighs in on the Washington Post reporting of a military strike that allegedly targeted two survivors in the Caribbean. <a href="https://t.co/qh5zs8hdWr">https://t.co/qh5zs8hdWr</a> <a href="https://t.co/alnukF1hlq">pic.twitter.com/alnukF1hlq</a></p>
<p>— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThisWeekABC/status/1995139913990255102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Raddatz cited The Washington Post report and said that the second strike — executed when the two survivors were apparently clinging to the wreckage of the destroyed boat — had been ordered based on verbal instruction from Hegseth himself to &#8220;kill everybody.&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Did those two men clinging to the side of the boat pose an imminent threat?&#8221; she asked, going on to wonder whether the order to strike a second time had been given with the knowledge that survivors were hanging on for dear life, and whether the lawyers had been consulted about the legality of such a strike.</p>
<p>The conversation focused on the idea that attacking when there was no &#8220;imminent threat&#8221; would be a violation of the &#8220;rules of war.&#8221;</p>
<p>But as Marine Corps veteran and Fox News personality Joey Jones said on &#8220;The Big Weekend Show,&#8221; an &#8220;imminent threat&#8221; does not always have to come in the form of guns pointed at American citizens.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨 Joey Jones just ended the left with one quote:</p>
<p>“Spare me the tears over terrorists when you don’t cry over Americans who’ve died from them. Spare me the tears over terrorists when you didn’t have anything to say when President Obama droned American citizens.”</p>
<p>🔥🔥🔥 <a href="https://t.co/6ISsgZkWzD">pic.twitter.com/6ISsgZkWzD</a></p>
<p>— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/ginamilan_/status/1994905288915521570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Jones noted that if the survivors were able to radio others in their drug trafficking network, that could be just as grave a threat — and could also quickly result in men with guns showing up to defend them.</p>

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

ABC Personalities Run With WaPo Hit Piece On Hegseth, Ignore War Sec’s Response

CNN Admits It: America Wants The Bidens To Just ‘Go Away’

Platner Adviser Wanted D*ck Pic In ‘Puberty Guide’ For 10-Year-Old Boys

‘He Lied To Everybody’: Fetterman Says Graham Platner Saga Isn’t Over

Dem Candidate Ditches Church Because She Can’t Stand Trump Voters

SEE IT: New York City Council Turns Chamber Into Drag Runway For ‘Pride Ball’

Move Over, Spencer Pratt. Another Reality Star Wants A Political Shot.

News

ABC News

Jonathan Karl

Martha Raddatz

Media

Military

narco-terrorism

Pete Hegseth

Politics

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

ABC Personalities Run With WaPo Hit Piece On Hegseth, Ignore War Sec’s Response