Pentagon backs Admiral Bradley’s strike call while Speaker Johnson reviews video footage
WASHINGTON, DC: The Pentagon offered a strong defense of the controversial second strike on a suspected t******king vessel on Tuesday, December 2, confirming that Admiral Frank Bradley acted with full authority, reportedly under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The statement comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed caution regarding the release of sensitive video footage capturing the attack, which reportedly killed two survivors.
At a Department of Defense briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson addressed the command decisions behind the operation.
Mike Johnson refuses to prejudge strike before review
“I’m not sure how much is sensitive with regard to national security,” Johnson said. “I haven’t had a chance to review it, so I’m not going to prejudge it.”
When pressed on the decision to launch the lethal follow-up strike, Johnson deferred to the military chain of command, specifically supporting the commander on the ground.
RAJU: If defenseless survivors were killed, would that constitute a violation of the laws of war?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 2, 2025
MIKE JOHNSON: I'm not going to prejudge any of that. I was pretty busy yesterday. I didn't follow a lot of the news. pic.twitter.com/v38JWhNx0k
“He’s a highly decorated, highly respected admiral in the Navy, and he made that call, and so, you know, we’re going to have to look at that,” Johnson stated, referring to Navy Admiral Frank Bradley.
Pentagon stands by Admiral Frank Bradley’s call
At a simultaneous briefing at the Department of Defense, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson offered a full-throated defense of the operation, confirming that Admiral Bradley acted with full authority.
“The decision to re-strike the no t****t vessel was made by Adm Bradley,” Wilson told the press pool.
She emphasized that Bradley was operating under “clear and longstanding authorities to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated.”
Wilson also relayed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is fully supportive of the admiral’s tactical decision.
“Adm Bradley made the right call, and unlike the previous administration, we have our war fighters back at this department,” Wilson added, signaling a shift in the department’s engagement rules.
Pentagon claims certainty on targets, refuses to share intel
Doubling down on the justification for the strikes, Wilson stated that the Pentagon is "100% [able to] confirm that we know, without a shadow of a doubt, who these No t****ts are."
While claiming the department has precise intelligence on what the suspected cartels are “carrying, where they’re coming from and where they’re going,” Wilson firmly declined to declassify specific evidence or operational details.
“I don’t want to communicate to the enemy, the ways in which we’re carrying out these strikes,” she said, shutting down further inquiries into the intelligence gathering methods.
