Megyn Kelly offered a strong defense of the Caribbean boat strikes authorized by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, dismissing criticism as fabricated and arguing that the individuals targeted were dying too quickly. She remarked that she would prefer they endure prolonged suffering.
The administration has faced growing pressure over the attacks on boats it described as transporting narco terrorists. Concerns intensified after reports indicated that a second strike had allegedly been ordered on survivors of an initial attack, prompting accusations of potential war crimes.
Speaking with Mark Halperin on her program, The Megyn Kelly Show, she noted that Hegseth denied personally issuing the follow up strike order, adding that the debate itself felt unnecessary. Kelly stated that while American forces should avoid committing war crimes, she viewed the uproar as artificially driven and intended to support criticism from Democratic lawmakers whom Hegseth labeled the Seditious Six. These lawmakers had previously released a video encouraging service members to decline unlawful commands.
Kelly argued that the video had no factual basis and that critics were now searching for anything to use against Hegseth. She added that she had little concern about the deaths of people she described as traffickers attempting to send fentanyl into the United States, endangering American youth.
She went on to describe a desire not only for the individuals to be killed but to endure serious suffering. Kelly said she struggled to feel sympathy for those who survived the first blast only to be targeted again in the water, acknowledging that legal considerations may differ but asserting that the American public would find it difficult to empathize.
Legal experts, including CNN analyst Elie Honig, stated that a deliberate strike on incapacitated survivors would clearly violate the laws of war. Honig explained that targeting defenseless individuals contravenes the Geneva Convention and noted that former Judge Advocate General officers have publicly declared such actions unlawful. The Department of Defense law of war manual specifically prohibits targeting shipwreck survivors rendered helpless.
Video of Kellys remarks was published on YouTube via The Megyn Kelly Show. The story was originally reported by Mediaite.
