FAIRLY OR UNFAIRLY, HEGSETH APPEARS TO BE AN ALBATROSS AROUND TRUMP'S NECK

Poll shows majority of Americans want Pete Hegseth FIRED amid 'war crime' furor

 

By Katelyn Caralle 

 

Daily Mail

Dec 5, 2025

 

 

 

The majority of Americans want Donald Trump to fire Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for his strikes against narcoterrorism in the Carribean 

 

Most Americans want Donald Trump to stay true to his 'you're fired' slogan and kick Secretary of War Pete Hegseth out of his cabinet.

Hegseth is facing a barrage of criticism for approving strikes on Venezuelan drug ships – and especially regarding the now-infamous second strike on the first attack in September that neutralized two survivors.

And now 54 percent of Americans say they think Hegseth should be fired for his recent actions heading the Pentagon, according to a new Daily Mail/JL Partners poll.

While 26 percent say he should keep his job and another 20 percent were unsure, when the uncertainty option was taken away from the 1,013 voters polled, a whopping 63 percent wanted Hegseth ousted.

The poll conducted December 3-5 – after revelations of the second strike circulated and criticism ensued – still indicates support for the Trump administration actions against Venezuela.

Nearly half of respondents say they support anti-narcoterrorism operations, while 30 percent say they are against the strikes.  

The Trump administration justifies all actions against narcoterrorism in the Caribbean and Atlantic thus far and asserts they have not violated any laws of armed conflict.

But bipartisan voices in Congress and legal experts warn that the second strike constitutes a war crime because it targeted hors de combat individuals – or attacks against those out of action due to injury.

 

New details of a second strike against the alleged drug boat on September 2, 2025 is raising concerns that the US commit war crimes by killing hors de combat individuals

 

Unsurprisingly, three-fourths of Republicans still back the former Fox News host keeping his position in President Trump's cabinet. 

And nearly eight in 10 Democrats want him gone.

The controversy all stems from the September 2, 2025 boat strike in the Caribbean Sea against a vessel the Trump administration claims was carrying cocaine en route to the US.

A US missile strike disabled the speedboat and killed most on board. But two survivors were observed clinging to the wreckage and thought to be attempting to radio for help.

Then a second missile strike was conducted that killed them.

Many have cited the Geneva Conventions, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, international law on use of force and the US Law of War Manual as reasons why international law was violated in this case.

Hegseth authorized the operation, including a contingency for follow-up action if the first strike failed to neutralize targets.

But he has denied specific 'kill everybody' orders.

The White House and Pentagon appear to be making on-scene commander Adm. Frank Bradley the fall person, saying he was the one who ordered the second strike. 

Bradley testified before Congress on Thursday and confirmed it was his decision to authorize the strike based on a perceived ongoing threat.

Trump had signaled discomfort with the second strike, claiming he 'wouldn't have wanted that' but insisting he trusts Hegseth's leadership and Bradley's decision-making.

The president has also indicated preference towards escalating actions against Venezuela and Nicolas Maduro's regime – even going as far to say US land strikes within the country's borders could be the next step.