The family of a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, has filed what is believed to be the first formal complaint against US strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), according to CNN. This isn’t just a quiet protest, either; the petition names US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as the perpetrator of the alleged killing.

The petition, filed by US human rights attorney Dan Kovalik, alleges that Carranza was killed when the US struck his boat off the coast of Colombia on September 15. The core of the complaint is that the United States carried out an extrajudicial killing that fundamentally violated Carranza’s human rights. The complaint states that Hegseth “was responsible for ordering the bombing of boats like those of Alejandro Carranza Medina and the murder of all those on such boats.” It also claims that President Donald Trump ratified Hegseth’s conduct.

The US has a very different story about what happened on September 15. President Trump claimed the strike had successfully killed three “narcoterrorists from Venezuela” who were transporting drugs to the United States. However, attorney Kovalik and Colombian President Gustavo Petro push back hard on that narrative. Kovalik says Carranza was a Colombian citizen who was simply out fishing for marlin and tuna, emphasizing that fishing was his “profession and his vocation.”

Hegseth’s worries deepen as the US Defense Secretary finds himself cornered from all directions

President Petro previously insisted Carranza was a lifelong fisherman with zero ties to the drug trade. Petro even noted that Carranza’s boat was displaying a distress signal because of engine damage. However, the Colombian president later made a critical concession, suggesting Carranza might have accepted money to carry prohibited goods due to his difficult financial situation. Even so, Petro was clear that even if that were true, “never did his actions deserve the death penalty.”

BREAKING: Colombian family files first known formal complaint over deadly US strike in Caribbean

I hope this is first of many!!! https://t.co/bbvWVUwZKa

— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) December 3, 2025

President Petro announced Monday that Kovalik had launched a “judicial defense” for the family. Petro also said his country must convene a commission of Colombian lawyers to investigate what he considered “crimes” happening in the Caribbean. Kovalik told CNN they are seeking compensation for Carranza’s wife and kids, but more importantly, they want these types of killings to stop. Kovalik is arguing that these strikes violate both international law and US law.

This action comes after the US has seriously ramped up its efforts in the region. Since early September, the US has executed at least 22 strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats across the Caribbean and the Pacific, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 people. The White House has repeatedly tried to justify these actions by claiming the boats were carrying individuals linked to cartels that are engaged in an armed conflict with the US.

While Pete Hegseth has doubled down on his support for the Navy, that narrative is facing a lot of scrutiny even inside the US.

During President Trump’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, December 2, viewers spotted an embarrassing typo on US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s nameplate. The White House broadcast the meeting around the world, so everyone saw the mistake. Officials misspelled Hegseth’s title as “SSECRETARY OF WAR” instead of “SECRETARY OF WAR.”

The typo quickly became the main topic online, taking attention away from the actual meeting discussions. The most likely reason is that a White House official simply made a mistake while making the nameplates. However, some people online claimed the extra “SS” was a deliberate reference to the Nazi party, which is clearly wrong and ridiculous.

The nameplate wasn’t the only thing that went viral from the meeting, as per Unilad. Social media users also noticed President Trump appearing to fall asleep during the 2 hour, 17 minute session. People started calling him “Dozy Don” and “Commander in Sleep” online.

The president has faced similar accusations before

This is reportedly the third time in recent weeks that Trump has been accused of sleeping during meetings. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended him, telling the media that “President Trump was listening attentively and running the entire three-hour marathon Cabinet meeting.”

Before the sleeping moment, Trump had criticized journalists for questioning his physical health. He said journalists “always find something new, like, ‘Is he in good health?'” and sarcastically added, “Biden was great.” Trump sounded frustrated with the press focusing on his health. The administration has previously called out certain news outlets for their coverage.

Why does Pete Hegseth's job title start with the letters "SS". Just saying. pic.twitter.com/sk5Xdzx5bB

— Senator Bruce Crossing (@SenatorCrossing) December 2, 2025

Trump said he gives “the right answers” and solves their “little problems,” but they still write stories saying “Biden was in wonderful health.” He complained that if he skips one day of press conferences, the media immediately says “There’s something wrong with the President.” He explained that he does “four news conferences a day” and answers questions from “very intelligent lunatics. You people.”

The meeting covered several serious topics, including the administration’s tough approach on drug trafficking, health concerns, and a rant about Somali migrants.

Of all the appropriate typos, Hegseth gets “SS.” pic.twitter.com/93VwuIQ4FV

— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) December 2, 2025

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed that Trump supports Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s suggestion to expand the current travel ban. The ban already stops immigration from 19 countries, including Afghanistan. Trump has also vowed to halt all immigration from certain countries.

The Tuesday cabinet meeting will likely be remembered more for the nameplate typo and Trump’s sleeping moment than for the actual policy discussions.

Democratic Representative Seth Moulton is accusing the Trump administration of blaming Navy Admiral Frank Bradley for a controversial September airstrike in the Caribbean. The Trump administration is trying to make Admiral Bradley the scapegoat, according to Moulton.

According to HuffPost, the controversy centers on a military operation against a suspected Venezuelan drug boat. After the first airstrike hit the vessel, a second strike targeted survivors clinging to the wreckage. Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran, said that the administration is deliberately throwing Admiral Bradley under the bus to avoid responsibility.

“That’s exactly what’s going on,” Moulton said. “This administration has no respect for our uniformed services. We’ve known that from the very beginning, and that’s exactly what they’re showing right now.” The White House is telling a different story, however.

The White House is shifting blame to protect Hegseth

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed on Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth didn’t even know the second strike was happening. She quickly pointed to Admiral Bradley, saying he worked within his authority when he decided to finish off the already-hit boat.

But Leavitt’s version contradicts a Washington Post report. That report suggests Admiral Bradley was following an order from Secretary Hegseth himself. According to the Post, Hegseth allegedly ordered the military to “kill everybody.” If true, this detail completely changes who made the final decision.

Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton, a Marine Corps veteran, weighs in on Secretary Pete Hegseth shifting responsibility for the double-tap strike on a suspected drug boat in September in the Caribbean. “What’s very clear is they’re throwing the admiral under the bus," says Moulton. pic.twitter.com/EHD8IsmZG6

— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) December 2, 2025

Secretary Hegseth has tried to control the damage, but his comments have been confusing. He posted on X Monday night supporting Admiral Bradley while also hinting that Bradley decided on the second strike. “I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made, on the September 2 mission and all others since,” Hegseth wrote, giving Bradley his “100% support.” This pattern of deflecting responsibility mirrors Trump’s recent accusations against Democratic lawmakers.

Let’s make one thing crystal clear:

Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.

America is fortunate to have such men protecting…

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 1, 2025

The next day, Hegseth told reporters at the White House that he did not stick around to see the outcome of the second strike. This statement doesn’t clarify whether he gave the initial order or not.

President Trump also commented on the controversy. Speaking with reporters on Air Force One Sunday, Trump said he wouldn’t have wanted a second strike. He also said he believed Hegseth did not say the words the Washington Post reported.

Critics have pointed out that Trump’s defensive responses to criticism often follow this pattern. For Moulton, these conflicting statements reveal a bigger problem. He stressed that Hegseth “never takes accountability for his own actions.” Moulton said everyone must answer for military actions, including the Secretary of Defense and the commander-in-chief.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly backed Navy Adm. Frank Bradley on Monday, doubling down on support for the commander after a report claimed Hegseth ordered the military to “kill everybody” during a strike operation, according to The Hill. This is a massive controversy, especially since the September 2 operation in the Caribbean Sea involved a second strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat.

Hegseth didn’t mince words when he took to the social platform X to defend the admiral. He stated that Bradley is absolutely supported by the Defense Department and is considered an American hero.

“Lets make one thing crystal clear: Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support,” Hegseth wrote. He made it clear that he stands by Bradley’s combat decisions, both for the September 2 mission and everything that followed. Hegseth concluded his message by saying, “America is fortunate to have such men protecting us. When this @DeptofWar says we have the back of our warriors — we mean it.”

Hegseth is not backing down from his claims just yet

The controversy exploded after The Washington Post reported that the Defense Secretary had directed military officials to “kill everybody” on board when ordering the operation. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Hegseth authorized the second strike, which Bradley then ordered.

Leavitt defended the military’s actions, telling reporters that Bradley was operating well within his authority and the law to make sure the boat was destroyed. She stressed that the primary goal was to eliminate the threat to the United States.

Let’s make one thing crystal clear:

Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support. I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since.

America is fortunate to have such men protecting…

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 1, 2025

President Trump also weighed in on the issue, specifically denying that Hegseth ordered the death of the two survivors. “The first strike was very lethal, it was fine, and if there were two people around. But [Hegseth] said that didn’t happen,” President Trump stated. “I have great confidence in him.”

This specific strike was only the beginning of a series of operations the administration has carried out against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The Trump administration has stated that the strikes killed 11 “narco-terrorists.” While they haven’t provided public evidence for that designation, the administration claims that the subsequent operations have killed more than 80 people total. That’s a huge number of fatalities, and it shows the intensity of these anti-trafficking efforts.

It seems the military leadership is standing firmly behind Bradley, too. Bradley was head of Joint Special Operations Command at the time of the strikes, but he received a major promotion in October. He was elevated to lead the U.S. Special Operations Command, which definitely signals institutional support despite the controversy.

Meanwhile, Congress is getting involved. Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), who is the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, confirmed Monday that he has been in touch with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) regarding the incident. The bipartisan effort aims to demand answers for the deadly strikes.

The publisher of the beloved children’s book series Franklin the Turtle has officially condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, slamming what they called a “violent” depiction of the cartoon character, as per The Hill. This public outrage is just one more headache for Hegseth as he deals with serious allegations regarding strikes he authorized on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.

Over the weekend, Hegseth shared a mock book cover on X. The image showed the iconic cartoon turtle in military garb, firing a rocket-propelled grenade right toward a drug-smuggling vessel. The fake cover was labeled, “A Classic Franklin Story,” and was given the made-up title, “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.” Below the helicopter where Franklin is stationed, you can see three boats carrying what appears to be narcotics, with one already mid-explosion from a rocket strike.

The publisher, Kids Can Press, released a strong statement on X. They reminded everyone that “Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity.” They added that they “strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”

Pete Hegseth is under fire from all directions

While the cartoon is certainly causing a stir, the real firestorm involves the deadly operations Hegseth authorized. Last week, The Washington Post reported that the Defense secretary gave the explicit order to “kill everybody” aboard an alleged drug boat in early September. Following the initial strike, two survivors reportedly clung to the wreckage. The commander in charge then ordered a second strike, following the secretary’s mandate. These ongoing strikes have reportedly killed 83 people since September.

Hegseth insists the reporting is “fake news” and that the strikes were absolutely “lawful.” However, the White House confirmed on Monday that Hegseth did authorize that second attack, though they defended the legality of the overall operations.

Shell-shocked Franklin the Turtle creators are snapping mad at Pete Hegseth for turning children's book character into narco strike mascot https://t.co/JxFceQZjLD

— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) December 2, 2025

This hasn’t satisfied lawmakers, and both Democratic and Republican members of the Armed Services committees in the House and Senate are calling for a full investigation. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) stated that they will get to the bottom of this. He said, “We’re going to have an investigation. We’re going to have a public hearing. We’re going to put these folks under oath. And we’re going to find out what happened. And then, there needs to be accountability.”

President Trump weighed in on Sunday, saying he has “great confidence” in Hegseth. However, the president seemed to distance himself from the specific “kill everybody” order. Trump claimed he “100 percent” believed the Defense secretary’s assertion that he never gave that particular command.

Amid all this severe turmoil and the mounting war crime allegations, Hegseth defended Navy Adm. Frank Bradley, who oversaw the operations, calling the commander an “American hero.”