Hegseth Denies “Kill Everybody” Quote, Insists His Words Were “Extensive, Exhaustive, But Definitely Not That”

SIMI VALLEY — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday dismissed reports that he told U.S. forces to “kill everybody” during a controversial second strike on a damaged drug boat, insisting his actual words were “extensive, exhaustive, but definitely not that.”

Hegseth, who previously noted that he personally held decision-making authority for the early strikes, now says critics are twisting his words into something “cartoonish,” insisting that every order he gives is wrapped in a highly disciplined process involving “lawyers, analysts, and at least three acronyms per sentence.”

As calls grow for the release of the strike video, Hegseth warned that such footage is easily misunderstood by people “who aren’t trained to watch explosions the way I am.” At one point he added that releasing it could compromise ongoing operations, ongoing reviews, and “ongoing narratives I’m still workshopping.”

Asked why President Trump promised the video could be released “no problem,” Hegseth said the president speaks “strategically,” while he handles “the part where things actually matter.”

In closing remarks, Hegseth reiterated that he never issued anything resembling a blanket kill order. “The idea that I said those exact words is ridiculous,” he said. “If I ever said anything like that, it would’ve been phrased much more professionally.”