'I watched it live', Hegseth told Fox the day after September strike where shipwreck survivors were killed

[Uncle Joe]

Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary, suggested on Monday that he did not give a direct command to have two survivors of a strike of a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean in September killed in a follow-up attack.

But the morning after the attack, of 3 September, Hegseth told his former colleagues on the morning show Fox & Friends that he had monitored the operation in real time.

“I can tell you that was definitely not artificial intelligence: I watched it live,” Hegseth said.

Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, discussed a lethal strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean during an appearance on Fox News on 3 September.

On Sunday, Donald Trump told reporters that Hegseth had told him that he did not order a second strike to kill “the two men”.

(snip)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/dec/01/donald-trump-pete-hegseth-caribbean-boats-venezuela-immigration-us-politics-latest-news-updates

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. "I can tell you that was definitely not artificial intelligence: I watched it live," Hegseth said.

Why would he say that? Like AI was a probable institutional problem?

[Uncle Joe]

2. I think because it's all a video game to him,

and he was experiencing a power rush after playing God.

[ChicagoTeamster]

3. Good, Now he has no way out. Donald's going to turn on him. Welcome to the under the bus club Pete.

[cliffside]

4. Good find - From the transcript, Hegseth knew there were 11 people on the boat because he was watching

0:36
>> Sec. Hegseth: A CLEAR ONE.
0:39
THAT WAS NOT ARTIFICIAL
0:41
INTELLIGENCE, I WATCHED IT LIVE.
0:43
WE KNEW WHO WAS IN THE BOAT AND
0:45
WHAT THEY REPRESENTED,

....

1:20
NOT ALLOW THIS ACTIVITY, YOU ARE
1:23
POISONING OUR PEOPLE, WE HAVE
1:25
INCREDIBLE ASSETS IN THE REGION.
1:28
YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO TRAFFIC
1:30
DRUGS, IT'S A NEW DAY.
1:33
THOSE 11 ARE NO LONGER WITH US,
1:35
THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT
1:37
TOLERATE THIS IN OUR HEMISPHERE.

... 4:15
>> Ainsley: INCREDIBLE YOU WERE
4:17
ABLE TO TRACK THE BOAT, KNOW
4:19
THERE WERE 11 NARCO TERRORISTS
4:23
ON BOARD AND CARRY IT OUT AND
4:27
PREVENT KILLINGS IN THE U.S.
4:29
THANK YOU FOR THAT, I DON'T KNOW
4:31
HOW YOU DID IT, I'M SURE YOU
4:32
HAVE INTEL YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT.

[timms139]

5. He would still be in big trouble if

the admiral ordered the strike. It says anyone who knew it happened must report it .