Democrats Say Trump Using A Scapegoat?
In another high-profile political clash, top House Democrats are accusing the Trump administration of “scapegoating” a U.S. Navy admiral after a deadly military strike on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean. The incident—part of President Trump’s aggressive crackdown on violent cartels—has quickly become the latest talking point for Democrats eager to undermine the administration’s national-security agenda.
Democrats Claim Trump Officials Are ‘Shifting Blame’
Democrats argue that the White House is unfairly placing responsibility for the mission on Adm. Frank Bradley, who oversaw the operation. They claim the administration is distancing itself from a tough call made in real time during a dangerous anti-drug mission.
Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) went so far as to accuse the administration of having a “long history” of making bold decisions and then “throwing people under the bus.” The criticism comes as Democrats continue to challenge Trump’s strong stance against drug cartels, border smuggling operations, and international trafficking networks.
The Mission: A Direct Strike Against Violent Cartel Operations
The White House confirmed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized a September 2 strike on a suspected narco-vessel in the Caribbean Sea—part of Trump’s stepped-up war on Latin American drug routes. After the initial hit, two survivors were spotted clinging to the wreckage. Adm. Bradley ordered a second strike, eliminating the remaining threat.
The operation, first detailed by The Washington Post, has raised questions on Capitol Hill, with Democrats—and a few Republicans—claiming the second strike may test the limits of the military’s rules of engagement.
Hegseth: ‘Bradley Made the Right Call’
After initially rejecting the media reports, Defense Secretary Hegseth strongly defended the mission, saying Bradley acted decisively to ensure the threat was neutralized.
“Adm. Bradley made the correct decision to ultimately sink the boat and eliminate the threat,” Hegseth said at the White House. “We have his back.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the message, stating that violent drug traffickers are a danger to U.S. national security and that Bradley carried out the mission according to his authority.
Democrats Claim the Mission Violated War Protocols
Democrats quickly shifted the conversation toward accusations of potential “war crimes,” citing military manuals regarding the treatment of incapacitated enemy combatants. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), a former JAG officer, argued that killing shipwrecked survivors qualifies as a violation of the laws of war.
Others, like Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), argued that such actions could put American troops at risk if hostile regimes retaliate in kind.
Democrats Use the Controversy to Target Trump’s Leadership
Crow and several other Democrats released a video urging military personnel to resist “illegal orders,” a move that conservatives blasted as politically motivated fearmongering. President Trump himself criticized the video, arguing that Democrats were undermining military discipline and national security.
Democrats insist their warnings were not tied to the Caribbean strike but were aimed at what they call Trump’s “lawless” military posture—a claim conservatives reject as election-year theatrics.
Pushing Responsibility Down the Chain of Command
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), a former Air Force officer, argued that Adm. Bradley should have refused the second strike if he believed it to be unlawful but simultaneously blamed Hegseth and President Trump for what she called a failure of leadership.
“It feels like they’re not willing to say where the buck stops,” she said, calling for discussions about replacing Hegseth as secretary of Defense.
A Clear Divide Over National Security
As Democrats escalate their criticism, the Trump administration remains firm: the mission eliminated a legitimate threat tied to violent cartels that have fueled America’s drug and fentanyl crisis. Supporters say the White House is doing exactly what Americans expect—taking on deadly trafficking networks that have destroyed communities across the country.
