Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 12, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)
In the aftermath, there have been calls to release unedited footage of the strikes, and for lawmakers to get a fulsome briefing on what exactly happened three months ago.
When asked if unedited video should be released of the strikes to Congress and the public, and, if the footage showed that the survivors were defenseless, if that would amount to a war crime, Johnson said that he wouldn’t "prejudge any of that," and he noted that both the Senate and House Armed Services panels would hold hearings to review the incident.
The top House Republican noted that he was playing catch-up on the developments, given that he spent much of Monday campaigning in Tennessee for Tuesday’s special election to replace former Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.
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Former President Barack Obama listens to speakers on a panel at the Obama Foundation Democracy Forum in Chicago, Dec. 5, 2024. (Vincent Alban/Reuters)
Johnson then turned his focus to former President Barack Obama and argued that under his administration, few questions were asked about the slew of drone strikes authorized by the then-president.
"One of the things I was reminded of this morning is that under Barack Obama, President Obama … I think there were 550 drone strikes on people who were targeted as enemies of the country, and nobody ever questioned it," Johnson said. "And second, secondary strikes are not unusual. It has to happen if a mission is going to be completed."
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"So I haven't reviewed the scope of the mission," he continued. "I haven't reviewed that particular strike. I don't know what went into the admiral's decision matrix, but it's something that Congress will look at, and we'll do that in the regular process in order."
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-points-obama-era-drone-precedent-congress-probes-deadly-caribbean-strike