Hegseth gives defiant speech defending ‘drug boat’ strikes amid scrutiny

At event in California, US defense secretary says Trump has power to take military action as he sees fit'

Pete Hegseth on Saturday doubled down on his defense of US military strikes on alleged drug cartel boats in the Caribbean, arguing that Donald Trump has the power to take military action as he sees fit" and dismissing concerns that the strikes violate international law.

Hegseth spoke on Saturday at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in Simi Valley, California, amid growing scrutiny over the legality of the attacks and his leadership of the Pentagon.