Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson praised President Donald Trump’s administration for “going on the offense” against suspected drug traffickers as scrutiny mounts on U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over a September strike that killed survivors on a suspected drug boat.
“I’ve watched these narcoterrorists be terrible people for decades, and I’m glad they’re finally being held accountable here because this is about protecting and saving lives,” Hinson, who represents northeast Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, said Dec. 4 on a call with reporters.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate have launched investigations into the Sept. 2 strikes, which targeted an alleged narcoterrorist drug boat amid a larger pressure campaign against Venezuela. Following the first strike, a follow-up strike killed two survivors as they clung to the wreckage.
Hinson praised the Trump administration’s approach, saying that illegal drugs like fentanyl and cocaine have “killed more Americans than any terrorist group ever has.”
“Rather than sit idly by and maintain the status quo, I think what we’re seeing here is that the Trump administration is really going on the offense here to meaningfully counter narcoterrorism and save lives,” she said. “So I’m happy to see that happening and I’m tired of seeing families lose loved ones to drug abuse.”
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, speaks during a public town hall at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Thursday, April 24, 2025.
The Washington Post reported that Hegseth gave a verbal order to kill everyone aboard the boat thought to be carrying drugs in the Caribbean.
After the first strike, two survivors were spotted clinging to the boat’s wreckage. Adm. Frank M. Bradley directed a second strike, killing both people.
The revelation has prompted criticism, with Democrats and some Republicans saying the second strike could constitute an illegal act and a war crime.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a Dec. 1 news briefing that Bradley gave the order and was “well within his authority to do so.”
Hegseth, who has called the initial report “fabricated” and “inflammatory,” defended Bradley while also trying to distance himself from the event.
He said at a Dec. 2 Cabinet meeting that he learned about the second strike after it happened.
“I watched that first strike live,” Hegseth said. “As you can imagine, at the Department of War, we’ve got a lot of things to do, so I didn’t stick around for the hour or two hours or whatever.”
Trump said at the Cabinet meeting on Dec. 2 that he did not know about the second strike when he was asked because he relies on Hegseth for information and hinted at plans for the administration to begin targeting cartels in Venezuela.
“Pete was satisfied. Pete didn’t know about a second attack having to do with two people. And I guess Pete would have to speak to it,” Trump said. “I can say this: I want those boats taken out. And if we have to, we’ll attack on land also, just like we attack on sea.”
Trump’s comments came the same day the White House confirmed that he had pardoned former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was convicted by a New York City jury and sentenced to 45 years for cocaine trafficking. Hernandez was “at the center of one of the largest and most violent drug-trafficking conspiracies in the world,” helping to bring more than 400 tons of cocaine into the U.S., the Justice Department said in a news release last year after his conviction.
Trump said in a social media post that he was issuing the pardon because “people that I greatly respect” told him Hernandez was “treated very harshly and unfairly.”
Hinson said Trump’s message to drug traffickers is “very clear.”
“You don’t get the free pass anymore to waltz into our country, funnel these deadly drugs into our communities,” she said.
She dismissed criticism of Hegseth as partisan, although Hegseth has also received scrutiny from some Republicans for his handling of the operation.
“We’ve seen the Democrats go after Secretary Hegseth nonstop since President Trump nominated him and I think it’s more of the same of that,” Hinson said.
Chuck Grassley backs Trump administration, says laws must be followed
In a separate call with reporters on Dec. 3, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said he expects all American laws to be followed, although he broadly backed the administration’s approach.
“Remember that the drug cartels have killed thousands of Americans, and it’s the commander-in-chief’s responsibility to protect the American people and our national security,” he told reporters.
“And what I’m reading complaints about Trump doing in this war on drugs, I didn’t hear anybody raise questions about President Obama conducting similar strikes in Libya,” he said. “And I expect all American laws to be followed.”
Hegseth under scrutiny in Signalgate report
At the same time, Hegseth continues to face fallout after using the encrypted text messaging app Signal to share sensitive military attack plans earlier this year, including with a journalist who was not intended to be part of the conversation.
The Pentagon’s inspector general issued a report that found Hegseth’s use of Signal on a personal cell phone “risks potential compromise of sensitive DoD information, which could cause harm to DoD personnel and mission objectives.” The report found that Hegseth had the right to declassify the information he shared.
The report says that Hegseth should not have used the app and that the department needs better training on protocols, according to CNN.
The Washington Post said the report found Hegseth violated security protocols designed to protect U.S. troops.
Grassley said he didn’t see the report as a condemnation of Hegseth.
“I don’t think they’re really finding a great deal of fault with him on it,” he said. “If they did, I didn’t read it that way.”
An unclassified version of the report was released Thursday, Dec. 4.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on X at @sgrubermiller.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. She writes about campaigns, elections and the Iowa Caucuses. Reach her at [email protected] or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ashley Hinson says Trump ‘going on the offense’ with drug boat strikes
