Hegseth and GOP clash over refusal to release Venezuelan boat strikes video

Published December 16, 2025 1:55pm ET



War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Tuesday that a video of U.S. military strikes on a suspected Venezuelan drug boat will be made available to only select lawmakers, putting the administration at odds with Republicans who want it released to all of Congress.

Hegseth, emerging from a classified all-senators briefing on the monthslong military campaign against alleged narco-traffickers in the Caribbean Sea, said only members of the House and Senate’s armed services panels will be shown video on Wednesday of back-to-back strikes from Sept. 2 on an alleged drug boat off the coast of Venezuela that’s created a political firestorm.

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