Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has directed Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to remove Colonel Dave Butler from his role as chief of Army public affairs and senior advisor, the latest in a series of leadership changes at the Pentagon tied to ongoing efforts to reshape senior military ranks.
On Thursday, Hegseth ordered Driscoll to remove Butler from his post even though Driscoll had resisted the move for months because of Butler’s role in Army transformation efforts and communications leadership. The order came just before Driscoll was to leave for Geneva to assume leadership of the U.S. delegation in ongoing talks on the Ukraine war.
In a statement <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/02/17/pete-hegseth-dan-driscoll-david-butler/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzcxMzA0NDAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzcyNjg2Nzk5LCJpYXQiOjE3NzEzMDQ0MDAsImp0aSI6IjM1NTk0ZDBjLWY1NmQtNDlkNC1hZTQyLTBjNDFlNWQxMjgxOCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDI2LzAyLzE3L3BldGUtaGVnc2V0aC1kYW4tZHJpc2NvbGwtZGF2aWQtYnV0bGVyLyJ9.2kXkZH7uJuJMTsWNZIda10tbo6UwQGf_ycpMPittFpY">sent</a> to The Washington Post, Driscoll thanked Butler for his service: “We greatly appreciate Col. Dave Butler’s lifetime of service in America’s Army and to our nation,” adding that Butler has been “an integral part of the Army’s transformation efforts” and wishing him success in his upcoming retirement after 28 years in uniform.
Butler had also served as the head of public affairs for the Joint Chiefs of Staff when General Mark Milley was chairman, a tenure that placed him in a leadership circle viewed critically by the Trump-aligned Pentagon team. Milley’s tenure became a flash point in the Trump era. As chairman of the Joint Chiefs during the previous administration, he drew public criticism from Trump allies after reportedly reassuring Chinese military officials during the 2020 transition that the U.S. would not attack, a development Trump himself <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/111111513207332826">called</a> “an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH.”
The Pentagon later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-era-of-accountability-hegseth-strips-gen-mark-milleys-security-detail">revoked</a> Milley’s personal security detail and his security clearance, and multiple Pentagon investigations were <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/05/20/senators-demand-new-investigation-into-former-gen-milleys-conduct/">ordered</a> into his conduct.
Those actions by Hegseth — stripping Milley’s security detail and opening a formal inquiry — were widely covered in Pentagon reporting at the time and stem from long-running tension between Milley and Trump-aligned political leadership over the general’s calls with foreign counterparts and public statements about civilian control.
Butler’s association with Milley and his role as a senior communications officer under him have not been publicly cited by the Department of War as the official reason for his removal; however, the timing and the ongoing pattern of personnel changes at the Pentagon suggest internal disagreements over leadership philosophy and messaging are at work.
Since taking office, Hegseth has been reshaping senior roles across the Department of Defense. Fox News has <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/secdef-hegseth-responds-rumors-he-drafted-list-military-officials-he-purge">reported</a> that multiple senior officers, including four-star leaders across service branches, have been replaced, retired, or moved out of key positions amid what the War Department describes as a refocusing of leadership toward mission priorities.
Butler’s removal is especially notable because his name appeared on promotion lists for two consecutive years for his first star, but Hegseth has delayed approvals for several officers selected by the Army board, in part over concerns about those choices. Butler volunteered to withdraw his own name from the list to help clear the logjam.
The directive to remove Butler comes as the Pentagon continues to balance internal leadership changes with ongoing international commitments, and will likely draw scrutiny from lawmakers and military observers watching how the department manages personnel decisions amid fragile peace talks in both Europe and the Middle East that require a united front by American military command.

President Trump Holds Cabinet Meeting At The White House

Hegseth Just Canned Top Pentagon Official

Department of War

Executive

Pentagon

Pete Hegseth

Politics

For decades, America’s maritime industry has been adrift. As China’s capabilities on the high seas became more lethal, we floundered.
That changed when President Donald Trump issued a clear mandate to restore our nation’s maritime dominance. He is committed to restoring America’s military might on land and at sea. That’s why we are aggressively expanding our shipbuilding capacity, bolstering the U.S.-flagged fleet size, and modernizing our ports. 
But let’s be clear: you can build big, beautiful ships all you want. But if you don’t have the American mariners to sail them, you’ve got nothing but a collection of big, beautiful, empty hulls.
President Trump and I understand that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point is America’s secret weapon. It is the training ground for the patriots who keep our global supply lines open and our economy humming. In times of war, they transport military goods to the front lines.
Yet, despite this vital mission, the academy was allowed to crumble and suffer. When I first stepped onto the Kings Point campus last year, I was appalled. Midshipmen were living without consistent heat or hot water, using plastic utensils and paper plates in the mess hall because their dishwasher had been broken for months, and relying on an ancient IT system in buildings that had likely not seen an upgrade since Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the campus in 1943.
These midshipmen serve our country; they should never have been forgotten. America wouldn’t be here without the merchant marine, and the merchant marine wouldn’t succeed without these bright young patriots. 
<h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK1sGZB3qwM">WATCH: The Military Game at Fenway Park You’ve Never Heard Of</a></h3>
President Trump and I will not allow their needs to fall on deaf ears. These midshipmen deserve a campus that reflects the greatness of the country they serve.
That’s why we’ve been raising the alarm. My team has spent the last year pouring every resource into overhauling this broken system. By cutting through decades of red tape, we are creating an irreversible momentum to propel Kings Point into the 21st century.
We signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Army Corps of Engineers, who are now on-site daily to drive these massive infrastructure projects forward. They are operating at the Speed of Trump and bringing a record number of top-tier contractors to the table.
More importantly, we have installed decisive leadership who “understand the assignment” and are returning the regiment to the academy standard for military officers. We have replaced bureaucratic stagnation with an unwavering commitment to getting things done.
We’re already seeing results. Projects that were over budget and delayed are no longer boondoggles. We swiftly upgraded HVAC equipment and installed new equipment to end hot water and heat outages. Barracks and shower facilities are being overhauled for a summer 2026 completion. Feedback from midshipmen has been stellar — they are grateful for an administration that is actually delivering tangible campus improvements.
<h3><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jesus-has-risen-at-the-merchant-marine-academy">SEAN DUFFY: Jesus Has Risen At The Merchant Marine Academy</a></h3>
On the academic front, we are giving the library a total facelift, revamping the IT infrastructure, and building new learning facilities, complete with state-of-the-art classrooms, simulators, and lecture halls. These upgrades go hand-in-hand with our overhaul of the academy’s curriculum and our mission to recruit elite faculty to shape the next generation of America’s leaders.
By the end of 2026, we will have put more than $350 million into this campus. But this massive campus modernization simply won’t be possible relying exclusively on the annual funding the academy receives. To build the world-class simulators, the brand-new barracks, and the academic facilities these midshipmen need to lead, we must keep the pedal to the metal.
We’re working with our partners in Congress to secure additional support and make Kings Point great again. Upgrading the academy isn&#8217;t just about brick and mortar; it is about strengthening America’s supply chains and national security for the next century. This is a no-brainer for those who believe in an America First future that President Trump is laser-focused on delivering.
The success of our nation runs through the gates of Kings Point. We have a plan. We have the leadership. Now, let’s get it done.
Sean Duffy is the United States Secretary of Transportation.
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The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
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Untitled design – 2026-02-17T140836.666

Making The Merchant Marine Great Again

Department of Transportation

Donald Trump

Marines

Sean Duffy

U.S. military forces boarded a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean in what the Pentagon described as a coordinated effort to disrupt illicit Venezuelan oil shipments tied to the regime of former dictator Nicolás Maduro.
According to the Department of War, U.S. forces conducted a “right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding” of the tanker Veronica III overnight Saturday into Sunday, after the vessel attempted to evade a U.S.-imposed quarantine on sanctioned ships.
“The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine — hoping to slip away,” the Pentagon said in a post on X. “We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down.”
Video released by the Pentagon showed U.S. troops boarding the tanker without resistance.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We defend the Homeland forward. Distance does not protect you.
Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Veronica III without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.
The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s… <a href="https://t.co/Tran3cLR9g">pic.twitter.com/Tran3cLR9g</a>
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2022997870061011067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The Veronica III is a crude oil tanker that has previously been linked to Venezuela’s oil exports and is listed under U.S. sanctions related to Iran by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The boarding is the latest move in the Trump administration’s broader effort to dismantle what U.S. officials have described as Venezuela’s “shadow fleet,&#8221; a network of falsely flagged or covertly operated tankers used to move sanctioned crude into global markets.
​​The boarding came as the Department of War confirmed Monday that U.S. forces had intercepted another sanctioned tanker, the Aquila II, which like the Veronica III, had fled the Venezuelan coast following the January operation that removed Maduro from power.
Both tankers falsely flew Panamanian flags and are under U.S. sanctions tied to illicit oil shipments. Both had spent much of the past year “running dark,” a common smuggling tactic in which ships disable their tracking transponders to evade detection.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XF2bSRak-U">Speaking</a> Monday during a stop at Maine Bath Iron Works as part of his “Arsenal of Freedom Tour,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the administration intends to pursue every tanker that attempted to escape U.S. enforcement.
“The only guidance I gave to my military commanders is none of those are getting away,” Hegseth told shipyard workers. “I don’t care if we’ve got to go around the globe to get them — we’re going to get them.”
U.S. officials say at least 16 tankers fled Venezuelan waters in the aftermath of the January raid, prompting a global tracking effort that has now stretched from the Caribbean into the Indian Ocean. The Trump administration has now seized seven tankers since the January 3 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-carries-out-military-strikes-on-venezuela-captures-president-nicolas-maduro">operation</a>. This is part of a broader push to dismantle Venezuela’s shadow oil fleet and reassert control over the country’s petroleum exports.
Anonymous Naval officials <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/us-military-strike-pacific?utm_source=chatgpt.com">confirmed</a> to The Guardian that multiple U.S. vessels, including guided-missile destroyers and a mobile sea base, were operating in the Indian Ocean, underscoring the administration’s willingness to enforce sanctions far beyond the Western Hemisphere.
Venezuela’s oil sector has been under heavy U.S. sanctions for years, forcing the Maduro regime to rely on clandestine shipping routes and foreign intermediaries to sustain revenue. In December, President Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned Venezuelan tankers as part of an escalating pressure campaign, weeks before Maduro was apprehended during a U.S. military operation in January.
The Pentagon did not clarify whether the Veronica III has been formally seized or placed under U.S. control, stating only that the boarding was conducted successfully and without incident. 
“International waters are not sanctuary,” the Department of War said in its statement. “By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice.”
While the administration has offered limited public detail on the legal mechanisms governing the seizures, officials have framed the campaign as a necessary extension of sanctions enforcement against hostile regimes and their economic lifelines.
The interception of the Veronica III signals that, even as Maduro waits to stand trial, U.S. forces will continue to pursue the remnants of Venezuela’s illicit oil trade, and that geography alone will not shield sanctioned actors from American reach.

Venezuela Oil Tanker

U.S. Forces Intercept Another Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker, Seventh Since Fall Of Maduro

Global Politics

Nicolas Maduro

Trump Administration

U.S. Military

Venezuela

World

The U.S. military conducted another lethal strike on Friday against a suspected drug‑smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing three, the latest in a concerted campaign under Operation Southern Spear to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks that transport deadly drugs toward the United States.
<a href="https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4406922/lethal-kinetic-strike-feb-13-2026/">According</a> to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), Gen. Francis L. Donovan directed Joint Task Force Southern Spear to carry out a “lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations,” adding that no U.S. military personnel were harmed in the operation. Video accompanying the announcement shows the boat steaming along known narco routes just before it is struck and destroyed.
This strike marks the fourth publicly disclosed operation in 2026, following an earlier <a href="https://www.southcom.mil/News/PressReleases/Article/4401932/lethal-kinetic-strike-feb-9-2026/">attack</a> this week in the Eastern Pacific that killed two and left one survivor. Since Southern Spear began operations in September 2025, there have been 39 confirmed engagements in both the Pacific and Caribbean.
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On Feb. 13, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOUTHCOM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOUTHCOM</a> commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known… <a href="https://t.co/y50Pbtexfi">pic.twitter.com/y50Pbtexfi</a>
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2022469576332574908?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The impact of these strikes against multiple vessels moving along established smuggling corridors has forced cartel networks to adjust their operations, according to statements by Defense officials. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth previously <a href="https://x.com/PeteHegseth/status/2019511650282545273">posted</a> that “some top cartel drug‑traffickers” have chosen to “cease all narcotics operations INDEFINITELY” in response to the “highly effective” multilateral crackdown.
Southern Spear targets suspected traffickers in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, regions notoriously used by transnational cartels to transport heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and precursor chemicals up to the U.S. mainland. SOUTHCOM has described the vessels it strikes as linked to designated terrorist organizations and engaged in narco‑trafficking, although it has not publicly disclosed the identities of the groups involved.
Support for the operation has come from high levels of the Trump administration, which has framed the maritime strikes as part of a broader confrontation with narco‑terror and cartel networks that operate with impunity in the Western Hemisphere. Officials argue that the lethal pressure is longstanding justice for families ravaged by drugs and a stark deterrent to traffickers who have specialized in moving product toward U.S. streets.
The Southern Spear campaign has unfolded against the backdrop of an even broader security offensive aimed at narcotics networks and destabilizing forces in the region. On January 3, 2026, U.S. Special Forces executed a complex nighttime raid in Caracas that resulted in the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, whom U.S. officials have charged with drug trafficking and narco‑terrorism.
The Caracas <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-states-carries-out-military-strikes-on-venezuela-captures-president-nicolas-maduro">operation</a>, involving elite units such as Delta Force, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and support from over 150 aircraft, demonstrated a willingness by the U.S. military to confront narco‑state threats directly, and not just at sea.
The campaign in Venezuela has been justified by U.S. leaders as part of an effort to dismantle the infrastructure used by cartels, particularly groups allied with or operating out of Venezuela. Hegseth and other officials have linked Caracas’ regime and associated networks to the flow of drugs that fuels the opioid crisis in the United States. The capture of Maduro and his extradition to New York to face federal charges further ties the regional narcotics fight to broader national security and law enforcement priorities.
The combination of maritime strikes and high‑profile operations like the Venezuela raid reflects a multi‑domain pressure campaign aimed at disrupting narcotics infrastructure at every level. By striking at both the transportation networks on the seas and leadership figures linked to narco‑trafficking in the region, cartels and allied networks no longer enjoy safe passage or sanctuary.
According to the Trump administration, each successful strike degrades traffickers’ operational capabilities and expands deterrence across the hemisphere. As the Southern Spear campaign continues, the decisive actions reflect a unified strategy to choke off cocaine, fentanyl, and other illicit flows at their source, hitting traffickers where they are most vulnerable: on the sea, in leadership echelons, and in allied networks that have long benefitted from weak enforcement.

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U.S. Military Says It Obliterated Another Narcoterrorist Drug Boat In Caribbean

Drug Cartels

narco-terrorism

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked War Secretary Pete Hegseth from stripping Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of his rank and military pay.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by former President George W. Bush, comes after Hegseth censured Kelly over the video he helped produce with five other Democrats urging military members to disobey &#8220;illegal orders.&#8221; In response, Kelly sued Hegseth, arguing that his First Amendment rights were violated.
In the 29-page <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.288365/gov.uscourts.dcd.288365.37.0_2.pdf">ruling</a>, Judge Leon wrote that Kelly&#8217;s First Amendment defense &#8220;is likely to succeed on merits,&#8221; adding, &#8220;This Court has all it needs to conclude that Defendants have trampled on Senator Kelly&#8217;s First Amendment freedoms and threatened the constitutional liberties of millions of military retirees.&#8221;
Leon said Hegseth&#8217;s argument &#8220;that military servicemembers enjoy less vigorous First Amendment protections&#8221; due to their obligations to the country has never been applied to &#8220;retired servicemembers&#8221; by a court.
&#8220;This Court will not be the first to do so!&#8221; Leon added.
Leon&#8217;s ruling means that the War Department cannot proceed with its actions against Kelly as the court continues to consider the case. Kelly, a retired Navy officer and astronaut, ripped Hegseth and President Donald Trump after Leon&#8217;s ruling was released.
&#8220;Today a federal court made clear Pete Hegseth violated the Constitution when he tried to punish me for something I said. This is a critical moment to show this administration they can&#8217;t keep undermining Americans&#8217; rights,&#8221; Kelly <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUqtAMFj5Ul/">said</a>. &#8220;I also know this might not be over yet, because Trump and Hegseth can&#8217;t admit when they are wrong.&#8221;
Hegseth <a href="https://x.com/PeteHegseth/status/2022035474337214836">vowed</a> to appeal the judge&#8217;s ruling &#8220;immediately,&#8221; writing, &#8220;Sedition is sedition, &#8216;Captain.'&#8221;
In the video, the Democrats said the Trump administration &#8220;is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.&#8221;
&#8220;Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution,” the Democratic lawmakers told U.S. service members. “Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.&#8221;
The Trump administration labeled the video as &#8220;seditious,&#8221; with President Trump suggesting the Democrats&#8217; behavior was &#8220;punishable by DEATH.&#8221; Trump later clarified that he was not calling for the Democrats to be executed, but added, &#8220;I think they’re in serious trouble.&#8221;
When the War Department launched its <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/war-department-reviewing-serious-allegations-against-sen-mark-kelly-after-dem-military-message?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=War+Department+Reviewing+%E2%80%98Serious+Allegations%E2%80%99+Against+Sen.+Mark+Kelly+After+Dem+Military+Message">review</a> of Kelly&#8217;s participation in the video last November, it cited a military code that makes it a crime “to interfere with, impair, or influence the loyalty, morale, or discipline of the military or naval forces of the United States” and “to cause insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty by any member of the military or naval forces of the United States.”
The Justice Department also sought to bring charges against all six Democrats involved, but earlier this week, a federal grand jury <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/grand-jury-refuses-to-indict-dem-lawmakers-over-video-urging-military-to-disobey-illegal-orders">declined</a> to sign off on an indictment. The other Democrats involved in the controversial video include Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, and Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania. All of the Democrats who helped make the video are military veterans or former members of the intelligence community.
The video was released as Democrats — and some Republicans — condemned President Trump&#8217;s authorization of strikes against suspected drug runners in the Caribbean Sea.
This article has been updated with additional information.

Mark Kelly/Pete Hegseth

Federal Judge Deals Another Blow To Trump Admin’s Effort To Punish Dems Over ‘Illegal Orders’ Video

Federal Judge Deals Another Blow To Trump Admin's Effort To Punish Dems Over 'Illegal Orders' Video

Democrats

Mark Kelly

President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed the Department of War to purchase electricity generated from coal plants, saying the move was necessary for national security and “American energy dominance.” 
“We&#8217;re going to be buying a lot of coal through the military now, and it&#8217;s going to be less expensive and actually much more effective than what we have been using for many, many years,” Trump said at a White House event Wednesday afternoon. &#8220;And again, with the environmental progress that&#8217;s been made on coal, it&#8217;s going to be just as clean.&#8221; 
Trump made the remarks before signing an executive order titled &#8220;Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet.” 
“The United States must ensure that our electric grid — upon which military installations, operations, and defense-industrial production depend — remains resilient and reliable, and not reliant on intermittent energy sources,” the executive order <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/strengthening-united-states-national-defense-with-americas-beautiful-clean-coal-power-generation-fleet/">said</a>. “Given our Nation’s vast coal resources and the proven reliability of our coal-fired generation fleet in providing continuous, on-demand baseload power, it is imperative that the Department of War (DOW) prioritize the preservation and strategic utilization of coal-based energy assets.”
The order directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Energy Secretary Chris Wright to approve power purchase agreements with coal-fired energy production facilities for War Department installations or other federal facilities. It states that priority should be given to projects that strengthen grid reliability, prevent blackouts, and enhance on-site fuel security.
According to the Energy Information Administration’s <a href="https://www.eia.gov/coal/annual/">2024 coal report</a>, coal production in the United States fell 11.3% from 2023 to 2024, while the number of operating coal mines declined from 560 to 524. Over the same period, American coal consumption dropped 3.5%. 
Since returning to office, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/end-the-government-bias-against-coal-trump-signs-order-to-bolster-floundering-american-industry">has taken</a> several steps to boost domestic coal production and use. He has signed executive orders designating coal as a critical mineral, expanding mining on federal lands, and repealing Biden administration regulations on coal-fired power plants. 
At the White House executive order signing on Wednesday, Trump was presented with the &#8220;Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award by Peabody Energy executive Jim Grech.

Trump Orders Pentagon To Buy Coal Power In Boost To Industry

Why Trump’s Energy Power Play Could Boost America’s National Security Edge

Trump Directs Military To Buy Coal To Bolster National Security And 'American Energy Dominance'

Coal

Department of Energy

Energy

Executive Orders

National Security

The U.S. military tracked down and boarded a crude oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after it evaded an American blockade in the Caribbean, the Department of War said Monday. 
The vessel, the Aquila II, was boarded without incident as American forces “conducted a right-of-visit” and maritime interdiction, the department said. The boarding comes as the United States has seized at least seven tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil. 
“When the [Department of War] says quarantine, we mean it. Nothing will stop DoW from defending our Homeland — even in oceans halfway around the world,” the department posted on X. “The Aquila II was operating in defiance of President Trump&#8217;s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean. It ran, and we followed. The Department of War tracked and hunted this vessel from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean.”
A video released by the department showed American troops rappelling from a helicopter to board the ship. 
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When the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> says quarantine, we mean it. Nothing will stop DoW from defending our Homeland — even in oceans halfway around the world.
Overnight, U.S. military forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding on the Aquila II without incident in the… <a href="https://t.co/kYVAQC5io9">pic.twitter.com/kYVAQC5io9</a>
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2020833550488965503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“No other nation on planet Earth has the capability to enforce its will through any domain. By land, air, or sea, our Armed Forces will find you and deliver justice. You will run out of fuel long before you will outrun us,” the department said. “The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies the ability to defy American power in the global maritime domain.”
The Aquila II <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us-boards-vessel-indian-ocean-without-incident-defense-secretary-says-2026-02-09/">reportedly</a> left Venezuela in early January carrying 700,000 barrels of heavy crude in defiance of the American blockade, bound for China. 
President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on all sanctioned oil tanker vessels leaving Venezuela on December 16. After the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the Department of War and the Coast Guard have continued to seize tankers that evaded the embargo. 
Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-files-warrants-seize-dozens-more-venezuela-linked-oil-tankers-sources-say-2026-01-13/">reported</a> in January that the Trump administration had filed for warrants to seize dozens more oil tankers linked to the Venezuelan crude trade. 
Trump has said that American oil companies will invest tens of billions of dollars to rebuild Venezuela’s oil fields. The United States has already sold around $500 million worth of Venezuelan oil and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-has-returned-remaining-200-million-initial-500-million-oil-sale-venezuela-us-2026-02-04/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sent</a> the money back to the country at the direction of the American government.

MixCollage-09-Feb-2026-09-05-AM-2640

U.S. Military Intercepts Sanctioned Oil Tanker In Indian Ocean

WASHINGTON—The War Department is monitoring efforts by Virginia Democrats to potentially cripple the Virginia Military Institute, The Daily Wire can first report.
Cadets at VMI, the nation&#8217;s first state-sponsored and supported military college, have grown increasingly anxious about the fate of their institution since Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger entered office and <a href="https://virginiabusiness.com/spanberger-names-27-new-university-board-members/">appointed</a> former Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to VMI&#8217;s Board of Visitors.
Northam <a href="https://www.schev.edu/Home/Components/News/News/154/">had ordered an audit</a> into alleged racism and sexism at VMI in 2021, amid the Democrat-led wave of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion measures in universities across the nation — measures supported by then-President Joe Biden and his administration.
Now, Virginia Democrats suggest that the military institution is still rife with racism, sexism, and cultural barriers. They proposed two measures taking aim at the school: their proposed House Bill 1377 establishes a task force evaluating whether VMI should still be funded by the state, and House Bill 1374 would end VMI&#8217;s Board of Visitors and give the state full oversight of the institution.
Revoking VMI&#8217;s state funding would likely lead to the school&#8217;s demise.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told The Daily Wire on Tuesday that the War Department &#8220;reserves the right to take extraordinary measures to protect the integrity of VMI.&#8221;
&#8220;Our commitment to the cadets and midshipmen currently training there remains steadfast,&#8221; he said.
Some state representatives who support the measures, like Democrat Michael Feggans of Virginia Beach, point to VMI&#8217;s roots in the Civil War, arguing that the institution has buildings on campus named for Confederate military figures.
“For VMI to flourish into the future, it must be allowed to move unfettered by the ghosts of the past, ghosts rooted in efforts to keep this country divided,&#8221; Feggans <a href="https://www.progress-index.com/story/news/local/2026/02/02/parade-of-speakers-ask-house-panel-to-block-vsu-taking-over-vmi/88476161007/">said during a Monday subcommittee meeting</a> on the matter.
Democrat state Rep. Dan Helmer of Fairfax, frustrated that VMI did not renew the contract of VMI&#8217;s first black superintendent, <a href="https://virginiamercury.com/2026/01/27/bills-targeting-vmi-governance-gain-traction-in-general-assembly/">told one local outlet</a>: &#8220;For those of us, like me, who care deeply about service and care deeply about producing leaders of character, we need to ensure that VMI has turned the page.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1037751" style="width: 875px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/?attachment_id=1037751" rel="attachment wp-att-1037751"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1037751" class="wp-image-1037751 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2256250118-865x576.jpg" alt="" width="865" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2256250118-865x576.jpg 865w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2256250118-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2256250118-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2256250118.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px" /></a>Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger watches the Corps. of Cadets from the Virginia Military Institute (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)</div>
Parnell shared with The Daily Wire on Tuesday that the Pentagon is specifically monitoring Virginia House Bill 1374 &#8220;with significant concern.&#8221;
&#8220;For generations, the unique military environment at VMI has made the institute a vital source of commissioned officers for the Armed Forces,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The stability of this proven leadership pipeline is a matter of direct national security interest and any action that could disrupt the ecosystem requires our full attention.&#8221;
Emphasizing the Trump administration&#8217;s commitment to the cadets and midshipmen training at VMI, Parnell promised that the War Department has the right to take the &#8220;extraordinary measures&#8221; to protect the institution.
&#8220;We urge the Virginia General Assembly to consider the broader implications of this bill on military readiness, as well as the federal government&#8217;s long-standing investment in this critical institution,&#8221; he said.
Parnell&#8217;s words will come as a relief to cadets and their families who have watched the developments of the last few weeks with concern.
Michael Ferrara, a VMI student, told Fox News in late January that he chose the school because he wanted to serve his country. He and his fellow cadets are proud of the long legacy of accomplished fighters that have emerged from VMI: &#8220;We&#8217;ve had approximately 300 generals and flag officers coming from the Virginia Military Institute. We&#8217;ve had seven Medal of Honor recipients, 11 Rhodes Scholars, one Nobel Prize winner.&#8221;
Ferrara and his roommate, Devin Auzenne, brushed aside allegations that VMI is not inclusive enough.
&#8220;My two roommates, they look nothing like me, come from completely different places, worship different gods,&#8221; said Auzenne. &#8220;My roommates &#8230; these are the people who I can call my brothers, my family, my friends, and anytime I ever need them, they&#8217;ll always be here for me. I can say VMI is the most inclusive environment that I have ever been a part of.&#8221;

DOD Secretary Hegseth And Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Caine Brief On Iran Strike

Trump Admin Says It Will Fight Virginia Dems To Save Historic Military College

abigail spanberger

Virginia

As tensions rise with China, Russia, and other global rivals, the Department of War has unveiled its 2026 National Defense Strategy, mapping a path for the United States to remain the world’s most formidable fighting force.
The <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF">strategy</a> emphasizes strengthened deterrence, homeland protection, and long-term competitive advantage, noting that “President Trump in his first term and since reentering office in January 2025 has rebuilt the American military to be the world’s absolute best—its most formidable fighting force.”
The strategy frames a world of heightened competition and risk, with major state actors driving instability. China is identified as the primary strategic competitor, pursuing military modernization and regional dominance in the Indo-Pacific. 
“Our goal is simple: To prevent anyone, including China, from being able to dominate us or our allies,” the document states. Russia remains an acute threat through aggression in Europe, while Iran and North Korea are advancing missile and nuclear capabilities, and violent extremist organizations continue to pose global risks.
The strategy highlights three integrated priorities: defend the homeland, deter strategic attacks — particularly nuclear — and deter aggression while preparing to win if conflict occurs. It underscores the recent strikes on Venezuela as a return to the historical foreign policy of the U.S. under the &#8220;Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine,&#8221; which is to “actively and fearlessly defend America’s interests throughout the Western Hemisphere… guarantee U.S. military and commercial access to key terrain, especially the Panama Canal, Gulf of America, and Greenland.”
Implementation is guided by four lines of effort, &#8220;prioritizing the missions that matter most for Americans’ security, freedom, and prosperity.&#8221; 
First, strengthening homeland defenses. Protecting the U.S. from multi-domain threats, including drones, cyber intrusions, and attacks on critical infrastructure, is central. The strategy stresses defending “America’s borders and maritime approaches” and countering unmanned aerial threats through initiatives like Golden Dome for America.
Second, deterring China in the Indo-Pacific. The strategy frames deterrence through capability and posture rather than confrontation. “Our goal in doing so is not to dominate China; nor is it to strangle or humiliate them,” it notes.
Third, reinforcing alliances and partnerships. Burden-sharing is emphasized, with allies expected to take the lead against threats less severe to the United States, while the U.S. provides “critical but more limited support” and makes clear the urgent need for allies to do their part.
Fourth, supercharging the defense industrial base. Domestic production and innovation are a priority, and the strategy stresses the need to “return to being the world’s premier arsenal, one that can produce not only for ourselves but also for our allies and partners at scale, rapidly, and at the highest levels of quality.” The document specifies domestic production of semiconductors, rare-earth elements, and munitions.
Over the next 12 months, the U.S. plans to expand its Pacific deterrence efforts, including investments in naval assets in the region, missile systems, and enhanced coordination with allies to counter China&#8217;s activities. 
The strategy also highlights emerging technologies used by our rivals: hypersonics, drones, cyber operations, and space systems. As such, in 2026, homeland security measures will focus on counter-drone technologies, cyber resilience, and border-related defense capabilities.
Allied engagement will push for increased defense spending, particularly contributions from NATO and Indo-Pacific partnerships. Defense industrial initiatives aim to onshore production and streamline acquisition, supporting U.S. manufacturing and job growth. This is paired with a drive for accelerated research and development in artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and unmanned systems on American soil. 
Nuclear modernization programs will advance, ensuring that deterrence remains robust. 
The strategy concludes that the U.S. must “defend the homeland, deter aggression abroad, and maintain enduring advantages in the technologies, industries, and forces that make victory certain.” 
Overall, the new National Strategy positions the military for a leaner, more focused posture, prioritizing core warfighting readiness over expansive overseas commitments for the coming years.

Hegseth

‘Most Formidable Fighting Force’: 2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy Eyes China, Emerging Threats

U.S. Sets 2026 Military Priorities, Eyes China And Emerging Threats

China

Defense Spending

Russia

War Department Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson says a lot has changed in the United States military over the last year — and that at the end of the day, it all comes down to a shift in the culture.
Wilson sat down with The Daily Wire&#8217;s Mary Margaret Olohan to discuss some of the changes made at the Pentagon and within the ranks since President Donald Trump began his second term and put decorated Army veteran Pete Hegseth in charge of his War Department.
&#8220;The biggest changes have really been the culture,&#8221; she said, adding, &#8220;We&#8217;ve gotten away from the ideology in the military, the politics. No more climate change, no more dudes in dresses, as the Secretary likes to say. We&#8217;re getting back to actual war fighting and the Warrior Ethos — standards, fitness, eating right, merit-based programs.&#8221;
Wilson said that the cultural shift also included a move toward promoting those who earned it through merit rather than those who simply checked the right boxes in pursuit of an ideological agenda.
&#8220;That has refocused the Department on our core mission,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And what that&#8217;s allowed us to do is be more lethal.&#8221;
WATCH:
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Wilson touted several major operations, from the surgical strikes on narcoterrorists in the Caribbean to the more recent arrest and extraction of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, and said that effective leadership and a shift toward lethality were behind those successes and many others.
A shift in priorities, Wilson said, was also underway, from &#8220;nation-building&#8221; and toward &#8220;war-fighting.&#8221;
&#8220;We&#8217;re making sure that our missions aren&#8217;t just drawn out with no clear end state,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;We&#8217;re going in with what success looks like, we&#8217;re making sure we attain that, and then we&#8217;re getting out and protecting the homeland and always putting America first.&#8221;
Wilson also addressed the extreme number of attacks directed at War Secretary Pete Hegseth — attacks that began as soon as he was nominated to head the Pentagon.
&#8220;That&#8217;s because, in many ways, he&#8217;s over the target,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;And he&#8217;s somebody who&#8217;s going to be a true change agent at the Department of War, and he, from day one, has gotten to work implementing all of those changes. And I think he gets so much hate, especially from the mainstream media and from the leftwing politicians in D.C. because he is that change agent. He&#8217;s not your typical Secretary of Defense who has maybe contracted for the big defense companies &#8230; he&#8217;s a true soldier&#8217;s soldier.&#8221;
Wilson rounded out the interview with a few details about the recent mission to capture Maduro and the plan to revamp the long-standing military publication Stars and Stripes, along with a promise that the War Department would always continue to put the warfighters first.

Screenshot/The Daily Wire

How The Pentagon Went From ‘Dudes In Dresses’ To ‘Actual War Fighting’

The Culture Has Changed: War Dept. Spox Describes New Direction For U.S. Military

Military

WASHINGTON—The Department of War will modernize Stars &amp; Stripes, The Daily Wire has learned, refocusing the military news outlet so it better serves &#8220;a new generation of service members.&#8221;
The independent news outlet authorized by the Department of War is meant to provide news for the military community. The publication has been in continuous circulation since World War II and covers the military, veterans affairs, and world events.
Until now, it has republished content from the Associated Press and Reuters. This will no longer be the case, War Department officials explained to The Daily Wire. They plan to bring the publication &#8220;into the 21st century&#8221; and modernize its operations, refocusing content &#8220;away from woke distractions that siphon morale.&#8221;
“The Department of War is returning Stars &amp; Stripes to its original mission: reporting for our warfighters,&#8221; Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told The Daily Wire. &#8220;We are bringing Stars &amp; Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that siphon morale, and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1028217" style="width: 910px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-refocuses-stars-stripes-on-reporting-for-our-warfighters/us-news-texas-hegseth-3-ft" rel="attachment wp-att-1028217"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1028217" class="wp-image-1028217 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255455251-900x576.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255455251-900x576.jpg 900w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255455251-300x192.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255455251-768x491.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/01/GettyImages-2255455251.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></a>Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)</div>
Parnell said the publication will be &#8220;custom-tailored&#8221; to the War Department&#8217;s soldiers, focused on &#8220;warfighting, weapons systems, fitness, lethality, survivability, and ALL THINGS MILITARY.&#8221;
&#8220;No more repurposed D.C. gossip columns,&#8221; he added, &#8220;no more Associated Press reprints.&#8221;
&#8220;Stars &amp; Stripes has a proud legacy of reporting news that’s important to our service members,&#8221; Parnell said. &#8220;The Department of War is committed to ensuring the outlet continues to reflect that proud legacy.”
It is a move condoned by the White House, which applauded the move as an example of how President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration is modernizing institutions across the country.
“The Department of War, under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, is continuing to revitalize, restore, and modernize,&#8221; White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Stars and Stripes is just the latest example of a broader effort to adapt long-standing institutions to how today’s service members live, work, and consume information.&#8221;
Currently, Stars &amp; Stripes has civilian staff who aggregate wire reports and write original stories. Going forward, the War Department officials shared, the publication&#8217;s content will be written by active-duty service members.
Fifty percent of the website&#8217;s content will be composed of War Department-generated materials, including digital or print materials made by War Department writers and images captured by combat cameras.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Rocket Lab, Long Beach, rocket production

Pentagon Refocuses ‘Stars & Stripes’ On ‘Reporting For Our Warfighters’

War Secretary Pete Hegseth fired back — rhetorically speaking — at Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) over a lawsuit filed Monday, saying that the Arizona Democrat was only &#8220;worried and cranky&#8221; because he was facing consequences for his own actions.
&#8220;&#8216;Captain&#8217; Kelly knows exactly what he did, and that he will be held to account. Thats why he’s so worried and cranky,&#8221; Hegseth posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“Captain” Kelly knows exactly what he did, and that he will be held to account.
Thats why he’s so worried and cranky. <a href="https://t.co/SSU9jccrx6">https://t.co/SSU9jccrx6</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/2011151451381498107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hegseth’s comment comes one day after Kelly announced his lawsuit — in which he also named Navy Secretary John Phelan, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of War as co-defendants — claiming that Hegseth had stepped outside his Constitutional authority in censuring him and launching a review of his behavior.
“Pete Hegseth is coming after what I earned through my twenty-five years of military service, in violation of my rights as an American, as a retired veteran, and as a United States Senator whose job is to hold him—and this or any administration—accountable,” Kelly claimed. “His unconstitutional crusade against me sends a chilling message to every retired member of the military: if you speak out and say something that the President or Secretary of Defense doesn’t like, you will be censured, threatened with demotion, or even prosecuted.”
Hegseth, one week earlier, announced the censure and a full review of Kelly’s conduct over the Arizona senator’s role in creating a video that encouraged active duty service members to question the legality of their orders in real time.
Referring to Kelly and the other Democratic lawmakers involved as “The Seditious Six,” Hegseth noted that the retired Navy captain was the only one who was still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and announced a review of his conduct that could ultimately result in a reduction in rank and pay, or even see Kelly recalled to active duty to face a Court Martial.

Pete Hegseth Hits Back At ‘Captain’ Mark Kelly: He ‘Knows Exactly What He Did’

Pete Hegseth Hits Back At 'Captain' Mark Kelly: He 'Knows Exactly What He Did'

U.S.

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