Trump Pulls a Sudden 180 on Releasing Boat Strike Video |
Five days after he promised the American public that they would be able to see drone footage from the September 2 airstrike in the Caribbean, Donald Trump has decided to walk it all back.
The president scolded a reporter during a White House roundtable Monday, berating her for quoting comments he made less than a week prior, in which he stated that any video of the merciless double tap would be released.
“Mr. President, you said you would have no problem with releasing the full video of that strike on September 2 off the coast of Venezuela,” a reporter asked. “Secretary [Pete] Hegseth has—”
“I didn’t say that,” Trump interjected. “You said that. I didn’t say that. This is ABC fake news.”
“You said you would have no problem releasing the full vid—well, OK,” the reporter flustered.
Unfortunately for Trump, it’s not so easy to rewrite history when it exists in recent memory on tape, video, and in print. On December 3, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “whatever” footage the government had in its possession of the attack, it would “certainly release.”
That, however, was apparently no longer the case come Monday.
“Whatever Hegseth wants to do is OK with me,” Trump said.
“He now says it’s under review. Are you ordering the secretary to release that full video?” the reporter pressed.
“Whatever he decides is OK with me,” Trump repeated. “So every boat we knock out of the water, every boat, we save 25,000 American lives. That was a boat loaded up with drugs.”
Since early September, the U.S. has conducted at least 22 strikes on small boats traversing the Caribbean that Trump administration officials have deemed—without an investigation or interdiction—were smuggling drugs. At least 86 people have been killed in the attacks. The White House has defended the violence, chalking it up to allegedly necessary efforts to thwart the pipeline of fentanyl into the country.
“Are you committed to releasing the full video?” the ABC News reporter asked for clarification—a move that seemingly really got under the president’s skin.
“Didn’t I just tell you that?” Trump said.
“You said it was up to Secretary Hegseth,” she responded.
“You are the most obnoxious reporter in the whole place. Let me just tell you, you are an obnoxious—actually, a terrible reporter, and it’s always the same with you,” Trump said.
It could be that Trump’s sudden reluctance to release the footage is because the tapes make his administration look cruel, callous, and careless. Lawmakers that were briefed on the September 2 double tap left the meeting appalled by the country’s actions, relaying to members of the media that they were “deeply disturbed” by footage of the killings.
President Donald Trump revealed Monday just how clueless he is about his own tariff policies, and appeared to improvise new rice tariffs on the fly after speaking with one rice farmer.
During a roundtable to unveil a $12 billion bailout package for American farmers, Meryl Kennedy, CEO of Louisiana-based Kennedy Rice Mill, told Trump that she believed other countries were “dumping” rice into the United States.
“Which countries?” Trump asked.
“India, Thailand, even China into Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico used to be one of the largest markets for rice, we haven’t shipped rice into Puerto Rico for years,” Kennedy said, adding that the president needed to “double down” on his tariffs.
“You want more?” Trump asked incredulously, and Kennedy replied that other countries were “cheating” by subsidizing their rice production.
Trump seemed to have no idea whether other countries were “dumping” rice, and asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent if India had a tariff exemption for rice.
“No sir, we’re still working on their trade deal,” Bessent replied. As of August, India is facing steep 50 percent tariffs on all exports, with exceptions for certain agricultural products, such as tea, coffee, and spices—not rice. In October, exports from India to the United States rose for the first time in months as trade negotiations were underway.
As Kennedy tried to explain how India might be illegally subsidizing its rice production, Trump interrupted her. “Give me the countries, if you could? Go ahead. India, who else? Mark it down, Scott,” the president said.
Kennedy repeated the “main culprits” of India, Thailand, and China, adding, “But there’s others too, and we can get you a full list.” Trump promised he’d “take care” of the problem quickly.
U.S. rice production is small compared to that of other grains, such as soybeans or corn. Across the six states that produce rice, there are only an estimated 5,500 farmers for that crop. In 2025, rice production in the U.S. reportedly suffered from adverse weather, while rice production in South American countries surged.
During the same roundtable, Trump also floated placing “very severe” tariffs on fertilizer imported from Canada—the largest supplier to the United States—which could boost domestic production but risks further hurting farmers.
President Trump on Monday lashed out at a reporter who asked about impending GOP House resignations.
“There’s at least 20 House Republicans who have either said they’re going to retire or not run again—”
“And Democrats, and Democrats also. And Democrats also,” Trump chimed in. “Why don’t you mention them? How many Democrats have retired? How many Democrats?”
“Well that’s what I was gonna ask—”
“Well, why don’t you tell me the number of Democrats too?”
“Well, are you concerned about the narrow margins?”
“No, I’m not concerned, I think we’re gonna do well,” Trump said, talking over the reporter. “We’re gonna have the greatest economy.... We’re gonna have the greatest economy in history. How many Democrats are retiring? How come you only know the Republicans and not the Democrats?”
“Because I came prepared to ask you a question—”
“No no, you’re unprepared. Because you should know the Democrats. You’re totally unprepared.”
Reporter: There are at least 20 house Republicans who said they will retire or not run again.
Trump: Democrats also. Why didn't you mention them? How many........