Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) doubled down on the viral video he made with five of his colleagues, saying that he had no intention of backing off despite a pending inquiry into his comments.
Kelly addressed the issue during an appearance on &#8220;Jimmy Kimmel Live,&#8221; telling the late-night host that he stood by what he&#8217;d said in the video, which he claimed was intended to caution members of the military to follow only lawful orders from President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
🚨 BREAKING: Seditious Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly has cooked himself even FURTHER, running to Jimmy Kimmel and telling Pete Hegseth and President Trump he’ll KEEP pushing for rebellion
“I’m NOT backing down!” 🤯
Court-martial this traitor. Enough.
<a href="https://t.co/aoUDgjLyYg">pic.twitter.com/aoUDgjLyYg</a>
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1993653787442266433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I mean, you can&#8217;t keep track of this guy and what he says,&#8221; Kelly said, apparently referring to Trump. &#8220;I&#8217;ll tell you this though: I&#8217;m not backing down.&#8221;
The audience cheered, and Kelly continued, &#8220;I mean, we said something very simple. Members of the military need to follow the law. We wanted to say that we have their backs.&#8221;
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What Kelly left out was the fact that in the video, clearly implied in their admonitions to &#8220;only obey lawful orders,&#8221; was the notion that President Trump either already had or would certainly issue one or more orders that were not lawful — and that they should be actively looking for them.
War Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pete-hegseth-unloads-on-insurrection-video-a-politically-motivated-influence-operation">Pete Hegseth</a> referred to it as &#8220;a politically-motivated influence operation&#8221; and argued that it was designed to sow doubt in the minds of service members and plant the seeds of insurrection. He, along with others, noted that Kelly was the only one of the &#8220;Seditious Six&#8221; who had retired from military service and was still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and could therefore be returned to active duty to face repercussions for his actions. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/politics/call-for-rebellion-stephen-miller-scorches-dems-for-pushing-insurrection-against-trumps-military-orders/">described</a> it as &#8220;insurrection.&#8221;
Kimmel, only too happy to carry Kelly&#8217;s water, lamented the fact that the Arizona senator would now have to take time away from serving the people of his state to hire attorneys and deal with the consequences of his actions.
&#8220;[You have to] consult with lawyers, and have to deal with this when you&#8217;re first of all working for the people of Arizona, the people of the United States,&#8221; Kimmel said. &#8220;Now you actually have to spend your time — are you actually, like, worried about this?&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been through a lot more challenging things than this,&#8221; Kelly said, waving away the concern. &#8220;What I&#8217;m worried about is the reaction and what this transmits to the military and the public, which is basically, &#8216;Shut up, and listen to that guy.'&#8221;
Kelly continued down that same path, noting that service members swear an oath to the Constitution while insinuating that President Trump — who also swore such an oath — was likely to violate that and order them to do the same.

Jimmy Kimmel

Surprise! Jimmy Kimmel Throwing His Support Behind The ‘Seditious Six’

Surprise! Jimmy Kimmel Throwing His Support Behind The 'Seditious Six'

insurrection

Mark Kelly

Media

Pete Hegseth

Politics

War Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly preparing to sever the military’s century-old partnership with the organization once known proudly as the Boy Scouts.
According to draft memos <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/11/25/nx-s1-5615164/pentagon-scouting-hegseth-cut-ties">reviewed by NPR</a>, Hegseth argues that Scouting America — after years of surrendering to leftist ideology — has abandoned the very mission that made it one of the nation’s most respected training grounds for leadership, character, and masculine virtue.
The Boy Scouts were once endorsed by Theodore Roosevelt and long served as a natural bridge to the military. The Pentagon formally backed the organization beginning in 1937, supplying trucks, doctors, medics, logistical support, and even aviation demonstrations at the National Jamboree. For the military, it doubled as a valuable recruiting channel: Eagle Scouts routinely entered at higher ranks, and about 20% of service-academy cadets came from scouting backgrounds.
But Hegseth says that era is over. According to Hegseth, the leaked documents indicate that Scouting America has become “genderless,” promotes “gender confusion,” and now devotes itself to DEI initiatives rather than merit and accountability. The group’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boy-scouts-now-officially-scouting-america-champion-dei-principles?utm_source=chatgpt.com">rebranding</a> — from “Boy Scouts” to “Scouts BSA” in 2018, and now to “Scouting America” in 2025 — symbolizes, in Hegseth’s view, an institution hollowed out by the same ideological forces transforming much of American civic life.
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“Drafts of a report to Congress obtained by NPR show Hegseth invoking that clause — accusing Scouting America of fostering ‘gender confusion,’” NPR reported. “His memo to the House and Senate Armed Services committees argues the Scouts have strayed from their mission to ‘cultivate masculine values.’ It also claims that with international conflicts and a tight budget, sending troops, doctors, and vehicles to a 10-day youth event would harm national security by diverting resources from border operations and protecting U.S. territory.”
Scouting America’s leadership responded with disappointment, insisting the group remains nonpartisan, rooted in duty to God and country, and committed to building ethical leaders. But their assurances ring hollow after years of DEI programming.
“In 2020, Scouting America added a new requirement for scouts working to achieve the group’s highest rank, Eagle Scout: A ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ badge, later renamed the ‘Citizenship in Society’ badge,’” <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/pete-hegseth-boy-scouts-scouting-usa-congress">Vanity Fair</a> noted.
For many conservatives, Hegseth’s move is not an attack on American tradition —  it’s an overdue acknowledgment that the institution once called the Boy Scouts no longer resembles what it was.
As the cultural Left remakes legacy organizations in its own image, Hegseth is signaling that the U.S. military will no longer subsidize the transformation.

2025 San Francisco Pride Parade

U.S. Military’s Alliance With Boy Scouts Could Collapse As Hegseth Calls Out DEI Overreach

Boy Scouts

U.S. Military

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the “Seditious Six,” the Democrats who urged service members to disregard what they called illegal orders from the Trump administration, The Daily Wire has learned. The FBI is now scheduling interviews with the members of Congress involved.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) appeared in a video urging service members and intelligence officers to &#8220;refuse illegal orders.&#8221;
Both the DOJ and the FBI confirmed to The Daily Wire that they are scheduling interviews with these lawmakers. After this story was published, the six lawmakers put out a joint statement accusing the president of &#8220;using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress.&#8221;
In their Nov. 18 video, the lawmakers said: &#8220;We want to speak directly to members of the military and the intelligence community who take risks each day to keep Americans safe.&#8221;
<blockquote>
&#8220;We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now. Americans trust their military, but that trust is at risk. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this constitution. Right now, threats to our constitution aren&#8217;t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.&#8221;
&#8220;Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our constitution. We know this is hard, and that it&#8217;s a difficult time to be a public servant. But whether you are serving in the CIA, the army, or navy, the air force, your vigilance is critical. Know that we have your back, because now, more than ever, the American people need you.&#8221;
</blockquote>
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the lawmakers should be arrested and tried for &#8220;seditious behavior,&#8221; saying their actions were &#8220;punishable by death.&#8221; The president later clarified that he was &#8220;not threatening death&#8221; to the lawmakers, but rather pointing out the severity of their conduct.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has also denounced the video, calling it &#8220;despicable.&#8221; Hegseth, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/despicable-reckless-and-false-hegseth-coins-new-nickname-for-dems-pushing-military-insurrection?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=%E2%80%98Despicable%2C+Reckless%2C+And+False%E2%80%99%3A+Hegseth+Coins+New+Nickname+For+Dems+Pushing+Military+Insurrection">coined the term</a> &#8220;Seditious Six&#8221; to describe the Democratic lawmakers, argued that while the video may seem harmless to civilians, &#8220;it carries a different weight inside the military.&#8221; 
&#8220;This was a politically-motivated influence operation: It never named a specific &#8216;illegal order.&#8217; It created ambiguity rather than clarity,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It used carefully scripted, legal-sounding language. It subtly reframed military obedience around partisan distrust instead of established legal processes.&#8221;
&#8220;In the military, vague rhetoric and ambiguity undermines trust, creates hesitation in the chain of command, and erodes cohesion,&#8221; Hegseth warned. &#8220;The military already has clear procedures for handling unlawful orders. It does not need political actors injecting doubt into an already clear chain of command. As veterans of various sorts, the Seditious Six knew exactly what they were doing — sowing doubt through a politically-motivated influence operation. The [Department of War] won’t fall for it or stand for it.&#8221;
On Monday, the Department of War singled out Kelly, stating that it had &#8220;received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.).&#8221; Kelly is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice because he is a retired Naval officer.
&#8220;In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures,&#8221; the War Department said. &#8220;This matter will be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality.&#8221;
Meanwhile, Kelly and his fellow Democrats argue that the president and the War Department seek to intimidate them from encouraging troops to disobey &#8220;illegal&#8221; orders — though on Monday, Sen. Slotkin <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2025/11/23/elissa-slotkin-video-troops-disobey-donald-trump-cannot-name-one-illegal-order-martha-raddatz-abc/">admitted on ABC News</a> that she could not cite any illegal order issued by Trump.
&#8220;If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,&#8221; Kelly said in a post that described his service in the United States Navy. &#8220;I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Donald Trump can try to intimidate me, but it’s not going to work. My job is to defend the Constitution and hold any president accountable. <a href="https://t.co/FzfW8qQz5f">pic.twitter.com/FzfW8qQz5f</a>
— Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkKelly/status/1993173763299721688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
The lawmakers released a joint statement on November 20, saying in response to Trump: &#8220;This isn’t about any one of us. This isn’t about politics. This is about who we are as Americans. Every American must unite and condemn the President’s calls for our murder and political violence. This is a time for moral clarity.&#8221;
“In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage. We will continue to lead and will not be intimidated,&#8221; they argued, adding, as they did in the closure of their video: “Don’t Give Up the Ship!”

Mark Kelly 10/28/25

DOJ, FBI Launch Investigation Into ‘Seditious Six’ Democrats, Interviews Set To Begin

Department of War

Donald Trump

Pentagon

Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) threatened members of the U.S. military on Monday, warning that there would be &#8220;consequences&#8221; if they went along with the War Department&#8217;s plan to investigate Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) over his participation in a video that appeared to encourage insurrection.
Gallego spoke with CNN host Kasie Hunt on Monday&#8217;s broadcast of &#8220;The Arena with Kasie Hunt,&#8221; where he defended the video in which Kelly and several others called on members of the military to refuse &#8220;unlawful orders&#8221; — while clearly insinuating that President Donald Trump either would or had already issued such orders. He then lashed out at the War Department for calling out Kelly, who, as a retired Navy commander, is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and promised retribution to any who went along with it.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MORE THREATS: Ruben Gallego promises legal retaliation over military&#8217;s investigation into Mark Kelly:
“Donald Trump&#8217;s going to be gone in a couple of years.&#8221;
&#8220;If you&#8217;re part of the military that is going after sitting Senators&#8230;and part of the weaponization of government —… <a href="https://t.co/QJwq2v6GLe">pic.twitter.com/QJwq2v6GLe</a>
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1993083556067946837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hunt asked what was Gallego&#8217;s &#8220;level of trust in the U.S. military justice system, if it were to get that far, to handle this?&#8221;
The Arizona Senator said that he did trust the system, but that if it were to go too far, members of the military who aided in any such action against Kelly would do well to remember that someday Trump would no longer be in office and could not &#8220;protect&#8221; them.
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&#8220;Donald Trump is going to be gone in a couple years. And if you’re part of the military that is going after sitting senators, sitting members of Congress, and part of the weaponization of government, there will be consequences, without a doubt,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;I think there’s going to be a lot of officers that are part of this potential tribunal, if they want to call it that, that will be looking over their shoulders,&#8221; he claimed. &#8220;Because they know that Donald Trump will be gone, and they will not have that protection. They’re going to have to do the safest thing possible, which is follow the Constitution of the United States, and you’ll be fine.&#8221;

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023

Dem Senator Doubles Down On Insurrection Video, Threatens Military Over Plan To Go After Kelly

Military

War Secretary Pete Hegseth called out the members of Congress involved in making a now-viral video that openly encouraged members of the United States military to undermine the orders of their Commander in Chief, President Donald Trump.
Hegseth labeled the six lawmakers the &#8220;Seditious Six&#8221; in a post on X — in which he shared plans for the War Department to investigate one of them under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The video made by the “Seditious Six” was despicable, reckless, and false. Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of “good order and discipline.” Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in… <a href="https://t.co/UvLXChZnmF">https://t.co/UvLXChZnmF</a>
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1993008532187148582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The video in question featured Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), and Sen. Mark Key (D-AZ) calling on members of the military to seriously consider whether or not orders coming from the White House were &#8220;lawful.&#8221; All but Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, previously served in the military.
&#8220;The video made by the &#8216;Seditious Six&#8217; was despicable, reckless, and false,&#8221; Hegseth wrote. &#8220;Encouraging our warriors to ignore the orders of their Commanders undermines every aspect of &#8216;good order and discipline.&#8217; Their foolish screed sows doubt and confusion — which only puts our warriors in danger.&#8221;
&#8220;Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under @DeptofWar jurisdiction (one is CIA and four are former military but not &#8216;retired,&#8217; so they are no longer subject to UCMJ),&#8221; he continued. &#8220;However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJ—and he knows that. As was announced, the Department is reviewing his statements and actions, which were addressed directly to all troops while explicitly using his rank and service affiliation—lending the appearance of authority to his words. Kelly’s conduct brings discredit upon the armed forces and will be addressed appropriately.&#8221;
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In an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/war-department-reviewing-serious-allegations-against-sen-mark-kelly-after-dem-military-message">earlier statement</a>, the Department of War announced plans to &#8220;review&#8221; allegations against Kelly, who is still subject to the UCMJ because he is a retired Naval officer.
The statement explained, &#8220;The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels.&#8221;

President Trump Holds Cabinet Meeting At The White House

‘Despicable, Reckless, And False’: Hegseth Coins New Nickname For Dems Pushing Military Insurrection

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced “Operation Southern Spear” on Thursday as tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, and the U.S. and its European allies, mount over the Trump administration’s lethal strikes on drug traffickers.
Hegseth announced the new mission in a post on X. It was not immediately clear whether the operation is a new label on the ongoing operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, or whether it represents some expanded operation in the administration’s efforts against the cartels.
“Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and [U.S. Southern Command], this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it,” Hegseth <a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/1989094923497316430">said</a>.
The War secretary said that the operation was ordered by President Donald Trump.
The operations announcement comes as tensions have flared this week between Washington and Caracas. Earlier this week, Venezuela <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maduro-orders-massive-military-mobilization-as-u-s-carrier-group-nears-venezuela">announced</a> a “massive mobilization” of its military and held drills on Wednesday that involved an estimated 200,000 soldiers. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said the military exercises were in response to the “imperialist threat” from the United States.
Venezuela’s show of force came as the USS Gerald R Ford and other vessels arrived in the region after the aircraft carrier was repositioned to the Caribbean Sea. The Ford is the United States&#8217; largest and most technologically advanced warship.
The Trump administration has positioned U.S. military assets in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean to cut off water routes used by drug cartels to ship deadly chemicals into the United States. The U.S. military has destroyed around 20 boats and submarines that it said were trafficking drugs such as fentanyl and cocaine.
In response, some officials in Europe have been critical of the U.S. strikes, accusing the United States of violating “international law.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marco-rubio-rips-eu-critics-who-claim-drug-boat-strikes-violate-international-law">responded</a> to those complaints on Wednesday.
“I do find it interesting that all these countries want us to send and supply, for example, nuclear-capable Tomahawk missiles to defend Europe, but when the United States positions aircraft carriers in our hemisphere, where we live, somehow that’s a problem?” said Rubio. “I would say that the United States and this president has made very clear his job is to protect the United States from threats against the United States, and that is what he is doing in this operation.”

Hegseth Announces New Operation Against Drug Cartels As Tensions Flare With Venezuela

Executive

United States

Venezuela

World

Just over one month after his landmark meeting with the military&#8217;s top brass, War Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered an explanation for his crusade against the &#8220;beardos&#8221; who did not adhere to the military&#8217;s personal grooming standards.
Hegseth, who mentioned the &#8220;beardos&#8221; in his speech to the gathered military leaders in late September, said on Wednesday that he was referencing the rapidly growing number of men at the Pentagon who had claimed affiliation with the Nordic Pagan or Old Norse religion in an apparent attempt to skirt the military&#8217;s shaving regulations.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> goes NUCLEAR on &#8216;beardos&#8217;: “Do you know how many troops claim to be Nordic pagan?” <a href="https://t.co/AYUKc6zJbr">https://t.co/AYUKc6zJbr</a> <a href="https://t.co/eQnss2q0Sn">pic.twitter.com/eQnss2q0Sn</a>
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/1988659385862848925?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;I also said we don&#8217;t need to be a military of beardos anymore,&#8221; Hegseth said. &#8220;Do you know how many troops claim to be Nordic Pagan?&#8221;
Over laughter from around the room, he continued, &#8220;No, suddenly it&#8217;s become this real religious, fake religious affiliation inside the Pentagon where troops claim to be Nordic Pagan so they can grow a beard — and no one challenges them on it because no one has upheld standards for a long time. So now a quarter of the platoon is sporting beards because they&#8217;re now suddenly Nordic Pagans. We&#8217;re not doing that stuff anymore.&#8221;
&#8220;There will be some people that say, well, Pete, why would a secretary care about beards and PT standards?&#8221; he added. &#8220;When you let the small things go inside your formations, you create a climate of a lack of discipline, where standards cannot be enforced. If you can&#8217;t enforce them on the small things, it gets far more difficult to enforce them on even more meaningful things &#8230; the entire command structure is flipped upside down.&#8221;
While many men who practice the Nordic Pagan religion do grow beards in order to honor specific gods or simply to express masculinity and status, they are not required to.
Military men are expected to keep their faces clean-shaven both for the uniform appearance and because the issued protective masks — designed to protect service members in the event of a gas attack — may not seal properly if the wearer&#8217;s face is not smooth.

Pete Hegseth Explains How The Pentagon Came To Be Filled With ‘Beardos’

Pete Hegseth Explains How The Pentagon Came To Be Filled With 'Beardos'

The U.S. military took out another drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean with a kinetic strike on Thursday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced. 
The strike was the 17th publicly reported action the Trump administration has taken against a suspected drug-running boat. Most strikes have occurred in international waters of the Caribbean Sea, but some have targeted boats in the Eastern Pacific. 
“Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization,” Hegseth said. “The vessel was trafficking narcotics in the Caribbean and was struck in international waters. No U.S. forces were harmed in the strike, and three male narco-terrorists — who were aboard the vessel — were killed.”
Hegseth posted a 20-second video of the strike, showing a boat sailing before it was blown up. He did not identify which Designated Terrorist Organization was targeted in the strike. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
As we’ve said before, vessel strikes on narco-terrorists will continue until their the poisoning of the American people stops.
Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist… <a href="https://t.co/gQF9LpSjqD">pic.twitter.com/gQF9LpSjqD</a>
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1986631797547921741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hegseth said the strikes will continue until &#8220;narco-terrorists&#8221; stop &#8220;poisoning&#8221; Americans.
“To all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland: if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs—we will kill you,” Hegseth said. 
At least 69 suspected drug traffickers <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-drug-cartels-hegseth-boat-strikes-fb83b0f02efd32d595a12aa4f6dc1864#">have</a> been killed in the Trump-authorized strikes. Three people across two targeted boats have survived. Two were repatriated to their home countries, where the Trump administration asked them to be prosecuted for drug trafficking. 
Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/5592319-us-military-drug-trafficking-strikes/">briefed</a> top congressional leaders on Wednesday about the strikes. Democratic leaders criticized the action, arguing that President Trump lacks the legal authority to authorize such military operations.
“The notion of kinetic strikes without actually interdicting and demonstrating to the American public that these are carrying drugs and [are] full of bad guys, I think, is a huge mistake and undermines the confidence in the administration’s actions,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).
Republicans have generally supported the strikes.
“They’ve got good legal justification for what they’re doing,” said Idaho GOP Senator Jim Risch, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “The president really ought to be congratulated for saving the lives of young American people. He should be thanked by the many parents who won’t even know that they won’t have to bury kids prematurely. They’re doing good work. They’re doing it lawfully, and I encourage them to keep it up.”
The Trump administration says it plans to keep up the strikes and has given at least 13 bipartisan briefings on the action.

MixCollage-07-Nov-2025-06-41-AM-421

More ‘Narco-Terrorists’ Taken Out In Deadly Strike As Hegseth Threatens Drug Smugglers

drug trafficking

Marco Rubio

The Trump administration is reportedly floating plans to send U.S. troops to Mexico to strike cartel footholds with drones.
If the plans are approved, troops and intelligence officers would be deployed to conduct ground operations in Mexico while hitting drug labs, cartel members, and kingpins, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-administration-planning-new-mission-mexico-cartels-current-forme-rcna241167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>, citing two current U.S. officials and two former U.S. officials.
“The Trump administration is committed to utilizing an all-of-government approach to address the threats cartels pose to American citizens,” a senior administration official told NBC.
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Many of the troops would come from the Joint Special Operations Command, serving under the authority of the intelligence community, according to the report. CIA officers would also play a role.
The mission, which has yet to receive final approval, would be carried out in secrecy, unlike recent strikes the Trump administration has carried out near the Venezuelan coast.
It could also be done with or without the support of the Mexican government, which previously expressed disapproval of similar plans that were reported in April. However, the Trump administration would prefer to work alongside Mexican authorities, according to NBC.
“We reject any form of intervention or interference. That’s been very clear, Mexico coordinates and collaborates, but does not subordinate itself,” Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said at the time.
The Trump administration has carried out more than a dozen strikes in recent months on alleged drug boats in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-precision-strikes-on-venezuela-military-could-begin-within-hours">Caribbean</a> and the Eastern Pacific. President Donald Trump recently confirmed that he&#8217;s authorized secret CIA operations on Venezuelan soil.
The State Department designated six of Mexico&#8217;s cartels as foreign terrorist organizations in February, opening the door for a crackdown on violence and drug trafficking in the region.
The Department of War didn&#8217;t immediately respond to The Daily Wire&#8217;s request for comment.

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Trump Admin May Send U.S. Troops To Mexico To Target Cartels

Trump Admin Looking To Carry Out Drone Strikes On Cartels In Mexico: Report

Drug Cartels

Mexico

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Saturday took aim at Beijing over an increase in &#8220;destabilising actions&#8221; in the South China Sea and committed to support Southeast Asian countries with technology to help them respond jointly to Chinese threats.
On a second day in Kuala Lumpur packed with meetings that included multilateral talks with allies Australia, Japan and the Philippines, Hegseth proposed to ASEAN defence ministers the building of shared maritime domain awareness and said China had shown a lack of respect and threatened their territorial sovereignty.
&#8220;You live it on the threats we all face from China&#8217;s aggression and course of actions in the South China Sea and elsewhere,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;We need to develop our joint capabilities to respond, and this includes being able to monitor maritime conduct and develop the tools that allow us to respond quickly &#8230; ensuring that whoever is on the receiving end of aggression and provocation is then, therefore, by definition, not alone.&#8221;
&#8220;No one can innovate and scale like the United States of America, and we&#8217;re eager to share those capabilities with allies and partners,&#8221; Hegseth added.
Hegseth&#8217;s remarks came a day after the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and the U.S. held a drill in the South China Sea, a patrol that a Chinese military spokesperson said &#8220;seriously undermined peace and stability.&#8221;
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea via a line on its maps that overlaps with parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
China has deployed an armada of coast guard vessels hundreds of kilometers off its mainland that has repeatedly clashed with vessels of the Philippines and been accused of disrupting energy activities of Malaysia and Vietnam.
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Beijing denies acting aggressively and says its coast guard has operated professionally in defending Chinese territory from incursions.
On Friday, its Defense Minister Dong Jun said it was necessary for China and ASEAN to work together to &#8220;pool Eastern strength&#8221; and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Hegseth&#8217;s visit to Southeast Asia came soon after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media that he had asked the U.S. military to &#8220;start testing our Nuclear Weapons,&#8221; after a halt for 33 years, a move that appeared to be a message to rival nuclear powers China and Russia.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump meant nuclear-explosive testing, which would be carried out by the National Nuclear Security Administration, or flight testing of nuclear-capable missiles.
Asked by reporters what kind of testing Trump was referring to, Hegseth said his department would comment later, adding: &#8220;We have very capable nuclear capabilities, and testing them is only prudent.&#8221;
In addressing the defense ministers&#8217; forum, Hegseth touted Washington&#8217;s peace credentials and said the U.S. was dedicated to building a military &#8220;unmatched in global power,&#8221; while stressing its commitment to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
He said U.S. dialogue with China was important and the opportunity to talk to his Chinese counterpart on Friday was of value, but warned Beijing&#8217;s actions must be watched closely.
&#8220;We seek peace. We do not seek conflict, but we must ensure that China is not seeking to dominate you or anybody else,&#8221; Hegseth told ASEAN counterparts.
(Reporting by Danial Azhar and Mandy Leong. Writing by Martin Petty. Editing by Mark Potter)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Testifies In Senate Hearing

Hegseth Says U.S. Ready To Share Tools To Help Allies Counter ‘Aggressive’ China

Communist China

Global Politics

Nuclear Weapons

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

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dispatched the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group toward South America on Friday, as the United States continues to take out suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean Sea and President Donald Trump hints at striking targets on land.
The aircraft carrier strike group will assist in disrupting &#8220;narcotics trafficking&#8221; and countering &#8220;narco-terrorism&#8221; in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/1981759934539985132">post</a> on X. The SOUTHCOM region encompasses all of Central and South America, along with the Caribbean.
&#8220;The enhanced U.S. force presence &#8230; 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,&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs [Transnational Criminal Organizations].
The USS Gerald Ford, America&#8217;s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is the flagship for Carrier Strike Group 12. The Strike Group also <a href="https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/csg12/">includes</a> a Carrier Air Wing, a Cruiser, and Destroyers. The carrier group is set to join eight other American ships in the region, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-aircraft-carrier-latin-america-uss-gerald-ford/">reported</a>. The growing U.S. military presence near South America is part of Trump&#8217;s effort to take out drug cartels and prevent deadly drugs from reaching American shores.
Trump has ordered <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/narco-terrorists-u-s-destroys-tren-de-aragua-drug-boat-in-caribbean-hegseth-says">10 strikes</a> against suspected drug runners in the Caribbean Sea, killing at least 43 people, while two other suspected cartel members have been captured. The president said on Wednesday that he would continue taking out suspected drug boats, adding that land strikes are &#8220;going to be next.&#8221;
Trump said that the United States is &#8220;totally prepared&#8221; to hit targets seeking to traffic drugs into the United States by land.
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&#8220;They&#8217;ll be coming in by land a little bit more because they&#8217;re not coming in by boat anymore. There are no boats in the water. There are no more boats,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/Breaking911/status/1981115684051702183">said</a>, adding, &#8220;And we will hit them very hard when they come in by land.&#8221;
The president&#8217;s boat strikes have focused on suspected cartel members coming out of Venezuela, enraging Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who claims that the United States is seeking to force him out of power. Maduro has called the strikes “a military attack on civilians who were not at war and were not militarily threatening any country.”
Some lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have expressed concern about Trump&#8217;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. Most Democrats and some Republicans have called for more oversight of the Trump administration&#8217;s military actions in the Caribbean.
Republican Senators Mike Rounds (SD), Thom Tillis (NC), Todd Young (IN), and Susan Collins (ME), have all made public calls for more Congressional oversight on the strikes.
“This is a legitimate discussion between the two branches of government that we should always be having,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/us/politics/republicans-trump-drug-war.html">said</a> Tillis. “I think we’ve got to be very careful when you’re talking about ordering a kinetic strike.”
Senators Rand Paul (KY) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) have taken their opposition to Trump&#8217;s strikes a step further, joining with most Democrats earlier this month in an effort to pass a measure stopping the military action. Paul introduced the measure alongside Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), but it ultimately failed. Rounds, Young, Tillis, and Collins all voted against the measure, as did Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
Trump said on Thursday that he doesn&#8217;t need to ask for a declaration of war to carry out the strikes.
“I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country, OK? We’re going to kill them, you know? They are going to be, like, dead,&#8221; he said.
He <a href="https://x.com/amconmag/status/1981462145112879262">added</a> that he might &#8220;go to Congress&#8221; to inform them about the land strikes, saying, &#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine they would have any problem.&#8221;
The Trump administration has told the American people that the strikes are conducted based on credible intelligence that marks the targets as cartel members.

USS Gerald Ford

U.S. Deploys Largest Aircraft Carrier To South America As Trump Hints At Land Strikes Against Cartels

U.S. Sends Largest Aircraft Carrier Toward South America As Trump Hints At Land Strikes Against Cart

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