GOP Senators Torch Dem Narrative After Closed-Door Meeting on Narco-Terrorist Strikes – RedState
Republican senators torched Democrats’ account of military strikes on drug boats following a closed-door meeting, accusing them of flat-out lying about actions taken by the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, Admiral Frank M. Bradley.
The Senate Armed Services Committee received a closed-door briefing Wednesday from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the briefing on the September 2, 2025, ship strike against drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
Speaking to members of the press after the meeting, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) defended Bradley and said what he saw was drug traffickers trying to continue their mission after the first strike, turning the boat around and trying to connect with other narcoterrorists.
READ MORE: Admiral Bradley’s Testimony Deals Devastating Blow to Narrative of Drug Boat Story
MORE: EXCLUSIVE: DoW Legal Advisor: ‘Cocaine Boat and Terrorists Heading to Poison Americans Are Legitimate Target’
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO): “I was just in the SCIF, I saw the video [of the September 2nd narco boat strike] and I think the Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for trying to slander Admiral Bradley, who was carrying out a lawful order. The men on the boat were trying to… pic.twitter.com/oByKOAhIkH
– RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 17, 2025
“I’ve just been in the SCIF, I saw the video [of the September 2nd narco boat strike]and I think the Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for trying to slander Admiral Bradley, who was carrying out a lawful order.
“The men on the boat were trying to continue their mission, and that’s the truth,” he added. “You have to remember where this all started. Democrats and the Washington Post falsely claimed there was an order to ‘kill everyone’. That’s false, it’s been debunked even by the New York Times.”
“And so in this case, the people and the boat were sunk,” Schmitt continued. “And one hundred percent legally justified. I’ve also reviewed over forty legal memorandums that lay out that justification. So if any Democrat comes here and questions that, they’re lying to you.”
Schmitt then gave a host of reasons why Democrats were lying, including that they didn’t like Hegseth, President Donald Trump, and more.
“They’re willing to throw highly decorated military and military personnel under the bus and, in the process, encourage people to break the chain of command because they don’t like Trump,” the senator explained.
SEE: This story about Hegseth and the drug boat strike just imploded even further
Oh my God: Democratic Sen. Mark Warner’s troubling remarks about the president. Trump and the military
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) pointed out that under former President Barack Obama, Obama carried out 500 strikes, killing 3,700 different people considered terrorists, and no one cared, as he called out members of the mainstream media.
Senator Markwayne Mullin addresses reporters: “Does anyone doubt that these are terrorist organizations?… So what is the difference between Obama attacking these individuals when they were considered terrorist organizations in the Middle East and these people who are here now… pic.twitter.com/Oi4j4tgZnk
– News from America (@OANN) December 16, 2025
“Does anyone doubt that these are terrorist organizations? … So what is the difference between Obama attacking these individuals when they were considered terrorist organizations in the Middle East and those who are here right now poisoning our streets?” asked Mullin.
Mullin said these cartels are terrorist organizations that are poisoning our streets and killing more Americans in 2024 than the United States lost in the Vietnam War.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), always a way with words, kept it simple and direct when he said it was “legal” and “effective.” Period.
President Trump’s military strikes against narcoterrorists transporting drugs into the United States are LEGAL and EFFECTIVE. pic.twitter.com/vYOBkWEc85
– John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) December 17, 2025
“These military strikes against narcoterrorists transporting drugs by boat to the United States are legal,” Kennedy said. “They are effective. [Drug] traffic is down. The intelligence on which they rely is of exquisite quality.
“There are checks and balances at every step,” he added. “To ensure that innocent people who happen to be on board a boat are not harmed.”
Will this put all of Bradley’s chatter about “war crimes” to bed with Democrats? We doubt it. But at least RedState readers will know the truth: It’s nothing like a burger.
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