Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the United States military took out four more narco-trafficking boats through kinetic strikes in the Eastern Pacific, leaving 14 suspected drug traffickers dead. 
Hegseth said that the strikes took place in international waters on Monday and were authorized by President Donald Trump. The boats were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTOs), Hegseth said. 
“The four vessels were known by our intelligence apparatus, transiting along known narco-trafficking routes, and carrying narcotics,” Hegseth wrote on X. “A total of 14 narco-terrorists were killed during the three strikes, with one survivor. All strikes were in international waters with no U.S. forces harmed.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out three lethal kinetic strikes on four vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations (DTO) trafficking narcotics in the Eastern Pacific.
The four vessels were known by our intelligence… <a href="https://t.co/UhoFlZ3jPG">pic.twitter.com/UhoFlZ3jPG</a>
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1983164355999883548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
There were eight male “narco-terrorists” on board the first boat, four on the second, and three on the third, according to Hegseth. He added that Mexican search-and-rescue authorities had assumed responsibility for coordinating the rescue of the survivor from the third boat. It was not specified which DTOs were targeted. 
“The Department has spent over TWO DECADES defending other homelands. Now, we’re defending our own,” Hegseth said. “These narco-terrorists have killed more Americans than Al-Qaeda, and they will be treated the same. We will track them, we will network them, and then, we will hunt and kill them.”
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At Trump’s direction, the military has taken out dozens of suspected drug-runners throughout the Caribbean Sea and expanded strikes into the Pacific. Two survivors of previous strikes were repatriated to Colombia and Ecuador, where American authorities recommended they face prosecution for drug trafficking. 
On Friday, Hegseth <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-deploys-largest-aircraft-carrier-to-south-america-as-trump-hints-at-land-strikes-against-cartels?author=Zach+Jewell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=U.S.+Deploys+Largest+Aircraft+Carrier+To+South+America+As+Trump+Hints+At+Land+Strikes+Against+Cartels">dispatched</a> the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group toward South America to aid in efforts to fight drug trafficking in the region. 
“The enhanced U.S. force presence … will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. “These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs [Transnational Criminal Organizations].”
Some lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have expressed concern about Trump’s strikes on suspected drug runners, arguing that Congress must grant approval before the administration uses the military to target suspected narco-terrorists in international waters. Trump has said that he doesn’t need a declaration of war to target those he says are bringing drugs into the country.

Screenshot 2025-10-28 at 10.04.48 AM

U.S. Takes Out 14 ‘Narco-Terrorists’ In Pacific Drug Boat Strikes

Donald Trump

drug trafficking

Military

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Military

World

A U.S. Navy fighter jet and helicopter crashed in the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other on Sunday in two separate incidents that President Donald Trump called &#8220;very unusual.&#8221;
The five crew members aboard both aircraft were rescued and are in &#8220;safe and stable condition,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/USPacificFleet/status/1982583083519140329">according</a> to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Both Navy aircraft were conducting routine flights from the USS Nimitz when the crashes occurred, while President Trump was in the region.
The first aircraft that went down was a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, which crashed at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time. The helicopter was assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 and had three crew members on board. After the MH-60R Sea Hawk went down, search and rescue teams were deployed from Carrier Strike Group 11, and all three crew members were rescued.
Just 30 minutes later, at around 3:15 p.m. local time, an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet crashed during &#8220;routine operations.&#8221; The two crew members ejected before the crash and were also rescued by Carrier Strike Group 11 search-and-rescue personnel. The F/A-18F Super Hornet was assigned to the &#8220;Fighting Redcocks&#8221; of Strike Fighter Squadron 22.
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On Sunday, Trump was in Malaysia, where he attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit before he departed for Japan, where he is scheduled to meet with the country&#8217;s newly elected prime minister. Trump was asked about the crashes while speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Japan, and said they were &#8220;very unusual.&#8221;
“They think it might be bad fuel,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/two-u-s-navy-aircraft-from-same-carrier-crash-into-south-china-sea-efc10fad">added</a>, according to The Wall Street Journal. &#8220;We’re gonna find out. Nothing to hide, sir.&#8221;
The U.S. Pacific Fleet said on Sunday evening that it is investigating the back-to-back crashes.
The USS Nimitz was on its way back to port in Washington after being deployed to the Middle East over the summer. After the crashes, China said it would &#8220;provide necessary assistance in a humanitarian spirit if requested by the U.S. side,&#8221; but the communist nation&#8217;s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun also criticized the United States for conducting military operations in the region.
&#8220;I need to stress that the U.S. aircraft crashed while conducting military drills in the South China Sea. The U.S. has been flexing muscles by frequently sending military vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea,&#8221; Guo added. &#8220;This is the root cause of security issues at sea and disruption to regional peace and stability.&#8221;
Trump is expected to meet with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, as the United States threatens to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods. Trump <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-china-trade-deal-asia-tour-continues-japan-sanae-takaichi/">said</a> that he is hopeful that the United States will reach a trade deal with China in the coming days.
&#8220;I have a lot of respect for President Xi. I think we&#8217;re going to come away with a deal,&#8221; Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

USS Nimitz

‘Very Unusual’: Two U.S. Navy Aircraft Crash During ‘Routine’ Flights Over South China Sea

China

U.S. Navy

The U.S. Department of War has confirmed that it has accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million to help keep U.S. troops paid during the government shutdown.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a close friend of his, whom he described as &#8220;patriotic,&#8221; gave the money to keep our military paid during what he&#8217;s called the &#8220;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/821950420784553">Schumer Shutdown</a>,&#8221; referencing Senate Democrat Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
The anonymous donor is <a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/mystery-donor-gave-trump-130m-165111194.html">reportedly</a> Timothy Mellon, a billionaire railroad magnate and heir to the prominent banking and political Mellon family. Mellon has not confirmed the donation came from him.
During the 2024 campaign, Mellon donated $100 million to groups backing Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who now serves as Health and Human Services secretary in the Trump administration.
The government has been shut down since October 1, after Democrats refused a funding resolution without certain health care subsidies. Republicans have charged that Democrats want illegal immigrants to receive health care paid for by the American people.
“He called us the other day and said, &#8216;I&#8217;d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown … because I love the military and I love the country,'&#8221; Trump said.
The Department of War has since confirmed the donation. &#8220;On October 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority,&#8221; Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. &#8220;The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members&#8217; salaries and benefits. We are grateful for this donor&#8217;s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.&#8221;
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Trump made clear last week that he would find a way to pay troops despite the ongoing shutdown. He signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to repurpose unused funds to cover salaries in the interim.
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump posted to Truth Social last week, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-our-troops-paid-trump-says-he-wont-let-military-suffer-due-to-dem-shutdown">highlighted</a> by The Daily Wire.
“If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” he continued. “That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,&#8221; the president added.
The funds donated by the anonymous individual might need to first receive authorization by Congress, Fox News notes.
<div aria-live="polite">Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-our-troops-paid-trump-says-he-wont-let-military-suffer-due-to-dem-shutdown">‘Get Our Troops Paid’: Trump Says He Won’t Let Military Suffer Due To Dem Shutdown</a></div>

We Now Know Mystery Donor Who Gave $130 Million To Pay Troops During ‘Schumer Shutdown’

Chuck Schumer

Executive

Government Shutdown

Politics

The Pentagon has come out against a new Netflix series aimed at promoting LGBT themes. “Boots,” based on a memoir titled &#8220;The Pink Marine,&#8221; is <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/81427990">about</a> a gay “bullied teen” who “impulsively” joins the U.S. Marine Corps and “finds new purpose — and unexpected brotherhood — with his motley team of fellow recruits.”
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson released a statement on the series, saying a person’s sexuality is not relevant in this administration’s effort to strengthen our military.
&#8220;Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn&#8217;t care if you&#8217;re a man, a woman, gay, or straight,&#8221; a statement given to Entertainment Weekly <a href="https://ew.com/pentagon-slams-netflix-gay-military-drama-boots-11831105">said</a>.
Kingsley confirmed that officials &#8220;will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.&#8221;
Hegseth made waves during a September speech to his top military leaders after sharing new directives for the War Department, including the news that every military branch will ensure that requirements for combat positions return to “the highest male standard.”
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“This job is life or death,” he said at the time, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-done-with-that-sht-trump-hegseth-demand-excellence-from-military-brass?author=Mary+Margaret+Olohan&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98We+Are+Done+With+That+Sh*t%E2%80%99%3A+Trump%2C+Hegseth+Demand+Excellence+From+Military+Brass">reported</a>. “Standards must be met … it’s common sense and core to who we are and what we do.”
Hegseth also noted that the military would no longer focus on ideology-driven initiatives left over from the Biden years, noting that their department is “done with that s***” and there will be no more “identity months, DEI offices, [and] dudes in dresses.”
“Boots,” which stars Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga, premiered October 9 and has been ranking in Netflix’s top 10 viewed charts ever since. The series is critical of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” military policy from the 90s that required recruits to keep their sexual identity secret.

Miles Hezier

‘Woke Garbage’: Pentagon Blasts New Netflix Series About Gay Marine

Entertainment

LGBT

Marines

Netflix

Social Issues

Television

U.S.

Multiple people reportedly survived a U.S. strike on Thursday that targeted a boat carrying suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
An American official <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-military-drone-strike-caribbean-leaves-survivors-official-confirms">told</a> Fox News that there were two to three survivors after the U.S. carried out a strike targeting a “big” drug boat that was partially submerged under water. A search and rescue helicopter was sent out to the site of the strike in international waters, according to Fox News. Reuters first <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-carries-out-new-strike-caribbean-there-are-survivors-us-official-says-2025-10-16/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> news of the survivors.
No other details on the strike were immediately available.
The Trump administration has ordered at least five strikes targeting suspected drug traffickers, but the others have left no known survivors. At least 27 suspected drug traffickers have been killed in the previous strikes, according to U.S. officials. 
Thursday’s attack was the second this week, following another strike <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-says-the-united-states-took-out-another-narcoterrorist-boat?author=Jennie+Taer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Says+The+United+States+Took+Out+Another+‘Narcoterrorist’+Boat">announced</a> by President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
“Under my Standing Authorities as Commander-in-Chief, this morning, the Secretary of War, ordered a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO) conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility — just off the Coast of Venezuela,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with illicit narcoterrorist networks, and was transiting along a known DTO route,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;The strike was conducted in International Waters, and six male narcoterrorists aboard the vessel were killed in the strike. No U.S. Forces were harmed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!!!!”
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Last week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth <a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/1976746496830959965">announced</a> that he had established a new counter-narcotics task force that was directed to “crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe.” 
“The message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold,” Hegseth warned. 
The strikes have been opposed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who claims the Trump administration is targeting civilians. Trump has authorized the CIA to conduct lethal operations in Venezuela, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/us-strikes-cartel-boat-are-survivors-rcna238104">claiming</a> that President Nicolás Maduro has “emptied” his prisons into the United States and that “a lot of drugs are coming” from Venezuela.
Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-to-congress-u-s-in-armed-conflict-with-terrorist-drug-cartels">has told</a> Congress that the United States is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels that he has designated as terrorist organizations. That came after the State Department classified violent gangs like Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations.

MixCollage-17-Oct-2025-07-16-AM-6039

U.S. Strike Targeting Suspected Drug Traffickers Leaves Survivors: Report

Department of War

Drug Cartels

Venezuela

President Donald Trump pivots from the Middle East to peace in Ukraine, Trump intervenes to protect military paychecks amid the Democrat shutdown, and drug cartels declare “open season” on federal agents.
It’s Thursday, October 16, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here:
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If you would rather listen to your news, today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">After Middle East Peace, Trump Turns Toward Russia</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-986667" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Trump-Eyes-Ukraine-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Trump-Eyes-Ukraine-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Trump-Eyes-Ukraine-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Trump-Eyes-Ukraine-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Trump-Eyes-Ukraine-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Trump-Eyes-Ukraine.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: After securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Trump has shifted his focus to the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make his third trip to the White House on Friday since Trump began his second term. The two are expected to discuss supplying Ukraine with more powerful weapons, such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, as well as additional air defenses to counter Russian bombardments.
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The United States has reportedly started to share intelligence on Russian energy infrastructure with Ukraine, increasing Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russian territory.
Trump pushes Putin: The U.S. president has made clear in recent months that he sees Russian President Vladimir Putin as the main obstacle to peace in the Ukraine war. The president is reportedly considering additional sanctions on Russia to increase pressure on Putin to negotiate.
“I’m very disappointed because Vladimir and I had a good relationship,” <a href="https://youtu.be/hfwxTnKt6iA?t=2418">said</a> Trump on Tuesday. “He just doesn’t want to end that war.”
View from Moscow: Moscow has said that even if Tomahawks were provided to Ukraine, that would not “change the dynamic” of the war. A Kremlin spokesman later added that the missiles would be an “extreme concern.” Putin said that he would increase Russia’s air defense, but he did not mention escalation on his end.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Shuffles Funds In Dem Shutdown To Pay Military</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-986669" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Funding-The-Frontlines-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Funding-The-Frontlines-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Funding-The-Frontlines-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Funding-The-Frontlines-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Funding-The-Frontlines-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Funding-The-Frontlines.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Two weeks into a Democrat shutdown, and now federal employees are starting to feel the effects. On Wednesday, military personnel were set to miss their first paychecks, but President Trump ordered War Secretary Pete Hegseth to find a way to keep the troops paid.
Morning Wire spoke with Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), chairman of the Republican Study Committee. (The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.)
Morning Wire: Now we&#8217;ve crossed one of the first thresholds for missed pay of this shutdown. There were fears that the military would miss a paycheck this week, but then Trump intervened. How did that go down? 
Pfluger: As a veteran and as somebody who served for over 20 years, this is personal to me because I saw it firsthand during previous shutdowns, where you had especially the junior enlisted personnel, those with families and young kids, some of them on food stamps. This puts them in a terrible position, and commanders, instead of focusing on the mission and the threat, readiness and lethality now have to focus on how are their men and women in uniform going to put food on the table? Thankfully, Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth came up with a plan to pay the troops and that is happening mid-month. But it doesn&#8217;t last forever, so if Democrats keep up their shenanigans and keep up the shameful approach that they&#8217;re using and showing why they don&#8217;t really like the military, then I&#8217;m not sure that they&#8217;re going to get a paycheck on the next pay period.
Morning Wire: To be clear – they managed to pay everyone this time, but this isn&#8217;t something that can continue for weeks. 
Pfluger: Yeah, they&#8217;re pulling money out of other areas. I mean, the money that they&#8217;re using to pay the troops was probably intended to go to operations or readiness or things like that. It was not the bucket that Congress appropriated for military pay, personnel pay, so this isn&#8217;t going to last forever.
Morning Wire: Is there any way that Congress could ensure going forward that this doesn&#8217;t happen again, particularly with the military? Can we put in place emergency measures for how government shutdowns affect military members?
Pfluger: I sure hope so. I think there&#8217;s an appetite for that. And I&#8217;d go a step further. I would include Border Patrol. I would include law enforcement, federal law enforcement, all the agencies that are charged with keeping us safe, national security level agencies. I&#8217;d go a step further on that. But let me just say this. Where are my Democrat colleagues on the other side of the aisle who served in uniform? Where are they right now? Why are they not standing up and taking the stand and saying enough is enough? … I&#8217;d like to see a country where we come back together and we unite and do the right thing. I thought that was going to happen after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and, obviously, it hasn’t.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">DHS Says Cartels Threaten Federal Immigration Agents</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-986671" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Cartels-Target-ICE-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Cartels-Target-ICE-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Cartels-Target-ICE-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Cartels-Target-ICE-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Cartels-Target-ICE-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/Cartels-Target-ICE.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: Federal immigration agents carrying out President Trump&#8217;s immigration enforcement efforts in Chicago are facing mounting threats stemming from drug cartels in Mexico, according to the Department of Homeland Security. 
Intelligence on threats is coming into federal immigration agencies daily, an agent on the ground in Chicago told The Daily Wire. Mexican drug cartels are recruiting and operating within the city of Chicago to go after ICE and Border Patrol agents. 
DHS says cartels are offering up to $50,000 in bounties for the heads of federal officers. On top of that, they are recruiting leftist, anti-ICE agitators who have already been out in the streets, and they’re asking them to help.
According to DHS, cartels are placing armed spotters on top of rooftops in areas where ICE agents are making arrests, and the spotters mark the coordinates of ICE officers and Border Patrol agents and relay their whereabouts.
The threats: The latest allegedly involved a Latin Kings gang member. A leader of that gang was nabbed by the federal authorities in Chicago. He is accused of placing a bounty on the head of Operation Midway Blitz, Chief Gregory Bovino.
On Tuesday, Border Patrol agents were rammed by an illegal alien driver who also had an illegal alien passenger in his car. That brought an anti-ICE riot mob to one of the quiet neighborhoods in Chicago.
The riot forced federal authorities to deploy tear gas. Federal officials were targeted with rocks and other objects.
&nbsp;

MRN_251016_V1

Morning Brief: Trump’s Peace Plan Pivot, Troops Paid In Dem Shutdown, & Cartel Targets ICE Agents

Border Patrol

Cartels

Department of Defense

Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Media

Morning Wire

Russia

Ukraine

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

The plane carrying United States War Secretary Pete Hegseth diverted to the United Kingdom on Wednesday, making an emergency landing, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed.
Hegseth was returning to the United States from a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, with other NATO defense ministers when the plane made the “unscheduled landing.” Parnell shared the news in a post on X, making it clear that the situation was related to an equipment failure rather than anything more complicated, and said everyone on board was safe.
“On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield. The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including Secretary Hegseth, is safe,” he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a crack in the aircraft windshield. The plane landed based on standard procedures and everyone onboard, including…
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellASW/status/1978523799349035408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“All good. Thank God. Continue mission!” Hegseth posted shortly afterward.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
All good. Thank God. Continue mission! <a href="https://t.co/kCMmfOvHLX">https://t.co/kCMmfOvHLX</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1978527712764363087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Early reports on the situation came from freelance journalist Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) and offered additional details.
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“The aircraft carrying Secretary Hegseth left Belgium and later declared an emergency (#7700) turning around over the Atlantic, heading back to the UK,” Leyden posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The aircraft carrying Secretary Hegseth left Belgium and later declared an emergency (#7700) turning around over the Atlantic, heading back to the UK. <a href="https://t.co/yd6AezOkRj">https://t.co/yd6AezOkRj</a> <a href="https://t.co/E3jZpdNkoF">pic.twitter.com/E3jZpdNkoF</a>
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/PenguinSix/status/1978515666987561259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Leyden followed that with a report stating that Hegseth’s plane — and one other that had also diverted — landed a short time later at RAF Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force station near Suffolk, England.
“Secretary Hegseth’s SAM 153 aircraft has landed at RAF Mildenhall. A C-17 backup aircraft that accompanied him to Belgium also diverted to Mildenhall and will likely pick him up and bring him back to the USA,” he posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Secretary Hegseth&#8217;s SAM 153 aircraft has landed at RAF Mildenhall. A C-17 backup aircraft that accompanied him to Belgium also diverted to Mildenhall and will likely pick him up and bring him back to the USA. <a href="https://t.co/jHha4OBKPh">pic.twitter.com/jHha4OBKPh</a>
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) <a href="https://twitter.com/PenguinSix/status/1978523906752352631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Plane Carrying War Secretary Pete Hegseth Makes Emergency Landing In U.K.

Plane Carrying U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth Diverts To U.K. For Emergency Landing

Air Travel

Global Politics

United Kingdom

The U.S. Central Command on Wednesday “strongly” urged Hamas to end its violence in Gaza after President Donald Trump vowed that the terror group would be disarmed.
Admiral Brad Cooper, the CENTCOM commander, issued a <a href="https://x.com/centcom/status/1978456188976042321?s=46&amp;t=o-U3qwC25WnWaylJ0oeG7Q">statement</a> calling on Hamas to take advantage of “an historic opportunity for peace … by fully standing down, strictly adhering to Trump’s 20-point peace plan, and disarming without delay.” This week, Hamas terrorists have ramped up their efforts to reassert control in the Gaza Strip after Israeli forces pulled out of most areas in Gaza in accordance with the ceasefire and hostage agreement.
At least seven men, whom Hamas accused of conspiring with Israel, were publicly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terror-reigns-hamas-publicly-executes-gazans-after-israeli-troop-pullback">executed</a> in Gaza on Monday. Hamas has also been fighting with rival groups in Gaza in recent days.
“We strongly urge Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza — in both Hamas-held parts of Gaza and those secured by the IDF behind the Yellow Line,” Admiral Cooper said.
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“We have conveyed our concerns to the mediators who agreed to work with us to enforce the peace and protect innocent Gaza civilians,” Cooper added. “We remain highly optimistic for the future of peace in the region.”
President Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas has already promised to disarm, a major demand in his 20-point peace plan.
“They’re going to disarm because they said they were going to disarm,” Trump said. “And if they don’t disarm, we will disarm them.”
“They know I’m not playing games,” the president added.
Media reports published last week claimed that the United States was deploying 200 troops to Israel to watch over the ceasefire, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/PressSec/status/1976423398164332631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1976423398164332631%7Ctwgr%5E996a5875757fb3dbf5844d44607057c57034a84e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livenowfox.com%2Fnews%2Fus-sending-200-troops-israel-gaza-ceasefire-deal">said</a> those reports were “NOT true and taken out of context.” Leavitt added, “To be clear: up to 200 U.S. personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground.” CENTCOM’s area of responsibility spans across 21 nations in the Middle East.
<div id="attachment_986277" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-986277" class="wp-image-986277 size-full" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="558" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687-300x163.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/10/GettyImages-2204816687-768x419.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />March 15, 2025: U.S. aircrafts taking off from aircraft carrier as U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces carry out precision airstrikes kicking against Iranian-backed Houthi targets across Yemen, according to CENTCOM. (Photo by CENTCOM/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)</div>
Vice President JD Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-there-will-be-no-u-s-boots-on-the-ground-in-israel-gaza">said</a> earlier this week that the administration had no plans to put American troops on the ground in Gaza or Israel.
“We’re not planning to put boots on the ground. What we already have is a U.S. Central Command, we already have people in that region of the world,” Vance told NBC News on Sunday. “They’re going to monitor the terms of the ceasefire. They’re going to monitor, ensure the humanitarian aid is flowing.”
The first phase of Trump’s peace plan, which went into effect on Monday, did not include Hamas laying down its weapons, nor have the terrorists agreed to give up control of the Gaza Strip, another major point of the president’s plan. Trump, however, remains optimistic that the terror group will agree to those stipulations in the future.
Israel has already accused Hamas of failing to follow through on its promise to hand over all of the remaining hostages. While the 20 remaining living hostages were handed over earlier this week, Israel is still waiting to receive the remains of dozens of hostages who died in Hamas captivity.
The Israel Defense Forces <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idf-hamas-undermines-ceasefire-deal-after-handing-over-wrong-body?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=IDF%3A+Hamas+Undermines+Ceasefire+Deal+After+Handing+Over+Wrong+Body">said</a> on Wednesday that one of the four bodies it has received so far “does not match any of the hostages.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called on Hamas to uphold its end of the agreement and return all 28 deceased hostages. Netanyahu’s office said that Israel “will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them.”

Hamas

U.S. Military Warns Hamas To End Gaza Violence After Trump Vows To ‘Disarm’ Terrorist Group

Gaza

Israel

Trump Administration

War Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed several media outlets on Monday after they refused to sign off on the Pentagon&#8217;s new press policy — which they say violates the First Amendment and Hegseth says will put the Pentagon in line with the policy governing press on every other U.S. military installation.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/department-of-war-implements-new-guidelines-for-media-access-at-the-pentagon">new policy</a> was detailed in a memo in late May, and said in part, &#8220;All members of the press issued a Pentagon Facility Alternate Credential (PFAC), will be required to read and sign a new in–brief form outlining information security requirements, the new physical control measures, and Department of War expectations of their compliance with safety and security requirements.&#8221;
But several outlets have taken issue with the policy, and several have made it clear that their journalists will not sign the requisite forms.
Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray issued a statement on Monday saying, &#8220;Journalists from The Washington Post will not be signing the Pentagon&#8217;s new press access policy. The proposed restrictions undercut First Amendment protections by placing unnecessary constraints on gathering and publishing information. We will continue to vigorously and fairly report on the policies and positions of the Pentagon and officials across the government.&#8221;
Hegseth responded with a waving hand emoji.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
👋 <a href="https://t.co/JhA7EutLqL">https://t.co/JhA7EutLqL</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1977805421332349055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in Chief of The Atlantic, offered a similar statement: &#8220;The Atlantic&#8217;s journalists will not sign the Pentagon&#8217;s press policy. We fundamentally oppose the restrictions that the Trump administration is imposing on journalists who are reporting on matters of defense and national security. The requirements violate our First Amendment rights, and the rights of Americans who seek to know how taxpayer-funded military resources and personnel are being deployed. We will [continue] to cover matters of defense, war, and national security independently and fairly.&#8221;
Again, Hegseth responded with a waving hand.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
👋 <a href="https://t.co/kBdhMyxrnB">https://t.co/kBdhMyxrnB</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1977806544252395858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The New York Times also issued a statement through Washington Bureau Chief Richard Stevenson: &#8220;Journalists from The New York Times will not sign the Pentagon&#8217;s revised press pass policy, which threatens to punish them for ordinary news gathering protected by the First Amendment. Since the policy was first announced, we have expressed concerns that it constrains how journalists can report on the U.S. military, which is funded by nearly $1 trillion in taxpayer dollars annually. The public has a right to know how the government and the military are operating. The Times is dedicated to pursuing the public interest through deep, fair reporting and an unwavering pursuit of the facts.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
👋 <a href="https://t.co/wnTQiHJZyC">https://t.co/wnTQiHJZyC</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1977808951338307907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Hegseth followed those posts with a brief explanation, saying, &#8220;Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right. So, here is @DeptofWar press credentialing FOR DUMMIES: Press no longer roams free; Press must wear visible badge; Credentialed press no longer permitted to solicit criminal acts. DONE. Pentagon now has same rules as every U.S military installation.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right. So, here is <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> press credentialing FOR DUMMIES:
✅ Press no longer roams free
✅ Press must wear visible badge
✅ Credentialed press no longer permitted to solicit criminal acts
DONE. Pentagon now has same rules as every…
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1977828217315549301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A number of other outlets — including a few that skew to the political Right — have made it clear that they are not on board with the policy either, citing some of the same concerns.
<a href="https://x.com/erikwemple/status/1977813801513992199?s=46&amp;t=5nB3R1hthzMlYMrXjZyN8Q">Newsmax</a> issued a statement that read, “Newsmax has no plans to sign the letter. We are working in conjunction with other media outlets to resolve the situation. We believe the requirements are unnecessary and onerous and hope that the Pentagon will review the matter further.”
The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Examiner, CNN, The Associated Press, and The Guardian all <a href="https://x.com/rt_com/status/1977868828781473868?s=46&amp;t=5nB3R1hthzMlYMrXjZyN8Q">followed suit</a>.

Hegseth Dismisses Media Outlets That Won’t Sign Off On Pentagon Press Policy

Military Bases

A &#8220;small group&#8221; of the 200 Texas National Guard troops deployed to Illinois was reportedly sent home after a photo of several heavyset guardsmen arriving in the state sparked viral criticism over fitness standards.
The Texas Military Department said that an unspecified number were not &#8220;in compliance&#8221; with its &#8220;validation process,&#8221; Task &amp; Purpose <a href="https://taskandpurpose.com/news/texas-national-guard-chicago-standards/">reported</a>. A photo taken by an Associated Press photographer and published by ABC News last week showed the larger-bodied National Guard members.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Members of the Texas National Guard have arrived in Illinois, according to sources familiar with their whereabouts and video taken of them at an Army Reserve training facility in a Chicago suburb.
Read more: <a href="https://t.co/AkmU3diD97">https://t.co/AkmU3diD97</a> <a href="https://t.co/chTjQ1TrFY">pic.twitter.com/chTjQ1TrFY</a>
— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1975648844693074010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission,” a spokesperson told Task &amp; Purpose by email this weekend. “The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth responded to the Task &amp; Purpose article on social media, writing, &#8220;Standards are back at The [Department of War].&#8221; Since taking over at what was previously known as the Defense Department, Hegseth has gone on a fitness blitz, urging military leaders and troops to uphold strict standards, telling military leaders last month that it&#8217;s &#8220;tiring&#8221; to &#8220;see fat troops&#8221; and &#8220;it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals.&#8221;
The National Guard Bureau, which operates within the War Department, released a <a href="https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/Press-Releases/Article/4322684/ngb-statement-on-fitness-standards-for-mobilization/#:~:text=When%20mobilizing%20for%20active%20duty,standards%20will%20take%20their%20places.">statement</a> after the photo went viral, emphasizing that troops “are required to meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards at all times.”
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&#8220;When mobilizing for active duty, members go through a validation process to ensure they meet those requirements,” the bureau added. “On the rare occasions when members are found not in compliance, they will not go on mission. They will be returned to their home station, and replacements who do meet standards will take their places.”
Social media users poked fun at the troops shown in the AP photo. One X user <a href="https://x.com/sportsdummie/status/1975653450810859930">wrote</a>, &#8220;Meal Team 6 reporting for duty,&#8221; while another person <a href="https://x.com/homemade_jorts/status/1975670929314529690">said</a>, &#8220;Guess they missed @PeteHegseth memo about weight.&#8221;
The <a href="https://nationalguard.com/basic-combat-training/army-combat-fitness-test">Army Fitness Test</a>, which National Guard troops are required to pass, &#8220;consists of six events that assess strength and endurance, improving readiness and preventing injuries.&#8221; Troops are required to take the test at least once a year.
The Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-deploys-national-guard-to-chicago-as-pritzker-melts-down-over-invasion">deployed</a> around 300 National Guard troops to Illinois as the president seeks to crack down on illegal immigration and violent crime in the Chicago area. The Trump administration, however, has been <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/appeals-court-blocks-trump-deploy-national-guard-illinois-rcna237065">blocked</a> by an appeals court from deploying those troops to the streets.

US-NEWS-TEXAS-NATIONAL-GUARD-DEPLOYMENT-TB

Texas National Guard Trims The Fat – Literally – After Viral Photo Sparks Fitness Concerns

National Guard

Texas

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he had found a way to make sure that American service members would be paid on October 15th, in spite of the Democrat-driven government shutdown.
Trump made the announcement via his Truth Social platform, saying that he had directed War Secretary Pete Hegseth to take steps to ensure that payment immediately.
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump began.
“If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” he continued. “That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”
Trump went on to say that he had already found a workaround and was pushing forward with it.
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“We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,” he declared. “I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown.”
The president concluded with a call for Democrats to vote to reopen the government, saying, “The Radical Left Democrats should OPEN THE GOVERNMENT, and then we can work together to address Healthcare, and many other things that they want to destroy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
“President Trump delivers for the troops,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth added.
Hegseth also praised House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for making appearances across media outlets to talk about what was really going on.
&#8220;Unlike @TheDemocrats, this Administration will ensure that no military-dependent child goes without health care or medicine during the Democrat Government Shutdown,&#8221; Hegseth said.
“Kudos to the @SpeakerJohnson for blanketing the airwaves and giving Americans the facts about the shutdown,” he added. “Shame on Chuck Schumer for voting NO and preventing our brave troops from getting a paycheck.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Unlike <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheDemocrats</a>, this Administration will ensure that no military-dependent child goes without health care or medicine during the Democrat Government Shutdown.
Kudos to the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> for blanketing the airwaves and giving Americans the facts about the shutdown. Shame… <a href="https://t.co/Pq1iloDs7h">https://t.co/Pq1iloDs7h</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1976998701437485208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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CNBC host Joe Kernen addressed the shutdown with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) days earlier, arguing that Democrats were effectively trying to use a government shutdown to undo duly-passed legislation because they didn’t agree with it.

‘Get Our Troops Paid’: Trump Says He Won’t Let Military Suffer Due To Dem Shutdown

While the government remains shut down as Democrats continue to block a short-term spending bill, the Senate on Thursday approved a $925 billion defense package that scraps a Pentagon provision creating a chief DEI officer.
The annual National Defense Authorization Act, which sets the policies and priorities of the Department of War for the next fiscal year, <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00570.htm">passed</a> 77-20. Nearly all Republicans voted for the measure, while nineteen Democrats and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) voted against it. 
“I promised to prioritize the NDAA, and I’m glad the Senate delivered,&#8221; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) <a href="https://x.com/LeaderJohnThune/status/1976462486678184311">announced</a> after the vote. &#8220;While I’m proud our bill authorizes a much-deserved pay raise for our troops, I’m disappointed they won’t see it — or any paycheck, for that matter — until Democrats end the Schumer Shutdown. They’re holding our troops and their families hostage for political demands.”  
The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2296">bill</a> includes authorizing the purchase of additional aircraft, missiles, and ships; directs the Pentagon to develop a strategy for &#8220;emerging biotechnologies&#8221;; extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative; and repeals existing DEI provisions across the military.
“We&#8217;re ready to show on both sides of the aisle that the Senate can act in the interest of national security and get something done on a bipartisan basis,” <a href="https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/senate-vote-bill-authorizing-925-billion-military-national-security?utm_source=mux&amp;utm_medium=social-media&amp;utm_campaign=social-media-autopost">said</a> Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS). 
The House approved its $893 billion defense bill earlier this year, and lawmakers from both chambers must now hammer out a final version.
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The vote comes as the government shutdown enters the end of its second week, with repeated Senate efforts to authorize a short-term funding bill continuing to fall short. 
Thune said he may allow a vote on healthcare subsidies if Democrats agree to support the temporary funding bill. The Senate has repeatedly fallen five votes short of the total needed to reopen the government.
“None of this happens absent them voting to reopen the government,” Thune <a href="https://x.com/LeaderJohnThune/status/1976436280742519207">said</a> Thursday. “Open up the government first, quit taking it hostage, and let&#8217;s get the American people and the federal workers. Let&#8217;s get them back to work.”

Senators Hold Their Policy Luncheons At The Capitol

Democrat Shutdown Drags On As Senate OKs $925B Defense Bill

Congress

John Thune

NDAA

Senate

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