In the past three months, President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth have ordered at least 21 military strikes on Venezuelan boats suspected of drug smuggling, leaving more than 80 people dead. The mission, Operation Southern Spear, has been ill-defined from the start and lacks any evidentiary basis, leading military and legal experts across the spectrum to determine that it may be both unconstitutional and illegal under international law. Recent reports revealed that after one targeted boat was initially struck in the Caribbean Sea on orders from Hegseth, a follow-up order from a member of his team was given to again strike the debris and intentionally kill the survivors who were known to be among the wreckage. Though it has been reported that Hegseth verbally ordered for there to be no survivors, he has denied giving the second strike order. Even after crafting his entire administration based on just this type of bravado, Trump said he wouldn't have given the second strike order.