WASHINGTON — THE WHITE HOUSE on Monday stated that Adm. Mitch Bradley authorized the second strike during a Sept. 2 operation targeting a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean Sea. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking in an official briefing, said Bradley acted under his authority in directing the engagement against what officials described as a threat.

The ABC News report also referenced a story published by The Washington Post alleging that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, during a separate Sept. 2 incident, instructed U.S. forces to kill all individuals aboard another suspected drug vessel. According to the Post, the allegation came from individuals described as having direct knowledge of the operation. THE PENTAGON publicly denied the claim. No first-hand evidence has been released to verify the allegation, and it remains unconfirmed.

CONGRESS returned to Washington on Monday following the Thanksgiving recess as lawmakers face multiple year-end deadlines. Among them is the scheduled expiration of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. These expanded credits, enacted as a temporary federal measure, increased financial assistance for individuals purchasing health insurance through the ACA marketplace.

Under current law, if CONGRESS does not pass legislation to extend or replace these enhanced credits, they will expire. Once expired, decisions affecting the affordability and pricing of health insurance plans will primarily fall to PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES, operating within the regulatory frameworks set by INDIVIDUAL STATES. Each state will determine whether to create or expand state-level subsidies or protective measures, while insurers will determine plan pricing and structure within those regulations. Because these decisions depend on state policy and private insurer action, no specific financial impact can be confirmed in advance.

The House is scheduled this week to vote on several education-related bills and two measures connected to the Small Business Administration. THE SENATE continues work on broader government funding legislation as lawmakers work against multiple end-of-year fiscal deadlines.

Diplomatic efforts toward a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict continued over the weekend. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with a Ukrainian delegation in Florida. According to THE WHITE HOUSE, Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow early this week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Leavitt said the administration remains optimistic about progress but provided no details on the proposals under active negotiation.

During Monday’s briefing, Leavitt also addressed questions regarding reports of survivors following the initial Sept. 2 boat strike. ABC News cited an individual familiar with the incident who said survivors were present after the first strike and were later killed in subsequent strikes. THE WHITE HOUSE has not confirmed this account, and THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE has not released any first-hand documentation regarding survivors or follow-up engagements. Leavitt referred questions on this matter to THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE and said she was not aware of any policy changes regarding the treatment of survivors.

Leavitt also released results from President Donald Trump’s preventive MRI conducted in October. According to THE WHITE HOUSE, the imaging showed no abnormalities and indicated that the president is in “excellent overall health.” Leavitt said the scan was performed to identify potential issues early and assess long-term health.

She further addressed questions regarding Trump’s pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who had been serving a 45-year U.S. sentence for drug-trafficking-related offenses. According to THE WHITE HOUSE, the current administration views the earlier prosecution as an overreach by the previous U.S. administration. No additional documentation was provided to expand upon that assessment.

This report includes only first-hand confirmed statements from official government sources, publicly documented denials, and verifiable structural facts. Allegations from secondary outlets are clearly attributed and are not presented as established fact. No projections, speculation, or opinion are included.

Sources

Primary First-Hand Sources

THE WHITE HOUSE. (2025, December 1). White House Press Briefing – Statements by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
THE PENTAGON. (2025). Public denial of alleged Sept. 2 directive.
CONGRESS. (2025). Legislative calendar and session return schedule.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. (2025). Public statements relating to Sept. 2 operations.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT. (2025). Public confirmation of diplomatic travel plans.
THE WHITE HOUSE. (2025). Official medical statement on President Trump’s MRI results.

Secondary Attribution-Based Sources

ABC News. (2025, December 1). Trump admin live updates: White House says Adm. Bradley gave order on 2nd drug boat strike.
The Washington Post. (2025, November 28–29). Reporting on alleged Sept. 2 operational directive attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2025). Policy materials on ACA subsidy expiration.
Congressional Research Service. (2025). Summary of Affordable Care Act subsidy structure and expiration provisions.