Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) made a startling admission Sunday on NBC News that at no time during his briefings on the potentially “illegal” strike last month on a suspected drug-carrying sea vessel was he provided proof that the boat was actually headed toward the United States.
According to a whistleblower, the Trump administration approved a follow-up strike on a boat last month in an effort to kill its survivors, who were observed clinging to the wreckage, which, if accurate, would likely constitute a war crime.
Cotton has received a private briefing on the strike, which included video of the incident. On Sunday, however, he may have potentially undercut one of the Trump administration’s potential justifications for the strike, that the boat was deemed an imminent threat.
“Senator, is there any hard evidence that shows that this particular boat was headed to the United States?” asked NBC News’ Kristen Welker.
“That didn’t come up in my briefing,” Cotton admitted. “But again, there’s very reliable multiple sources of intelligence that tells us that this boat had drugs on it, that everyone on that boat is associated with these designated terrorist organizations that are trying to kill American children.”
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to designate drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, a designation that gives the administration far more leeway in targeting suspected drug traffickers with lethal force. Even so, targeting enemy combatants who pose no imminent threat and are surrendering would still constitute a war crime in most cases, regardless of the combatants designation.
Given as much, Welker pressed Cotton on the matter, asking if he was “comfortable” with the Trump administration targeting a boat that he hadn’t seen evidence proving it was “actually heading to the United States.”
“Any boat loaded with drugs that is crewed by associates and members of Foreign Terrorist Organizations that are trying to kill American kids, I think is a valid target,” Cotton said. “I’m not just comfortable with it, I want to continue it.”
WELKER: Is there any hard evidence showing this particular boat was headed to the US? TOM COTTON: That didn’t come up in my briefing WELKER: Are you comfortable having the US target a boat that you’re not sure is heading to the US? COTTON: I’m not just comfortable with it — I… pic.twitter.com/JObokcszyn — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 7, 2025
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