House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., briefs the media on the timeline to possibly end the government shutdown in the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, Nov. 10, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
"This is a great threat to us. Every one of these boats that is capsized saves tens of thousands of American lives. This is what the president has prioritized. I think he's done it with the expectation and the consent of the American people," Johnson argued.
"I'm satisfied with the intelligence, with the way that this was conducted. I think it was entirely appropriate. I think Admiral Bradley is one of the most honorable men serving in the U.S. military. His credentials are exceptional. He's a man of great integrity, and they followed the law very carefully and closely here."
He said of the second strike specifically, "It followed the law, it followed protocol, it followed our previous missions like this…I'm fully confident that it was done the right way."
TOM COTTON CALLS ON WASHINGTON POST TO APOLOGIZE TO HEGSETH, BRADLEY FOR 'SLANDER'
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left, and Adm. Frank "Mitch" Bradley, right. Hegseth wrote on X that "Admiral Mitch Bradley is an American hero, a true professional, and has my 100% support," and, "I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made — on the September 2 mission and all others since." (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images; USSOCOM)
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Republicans and Democrats have had vastly different reactions to the strikes, with President Donald Trump's critics on the left accusing his administration of possibly committing a war crime.
Republicans, meanwhile, have largely said the military acted within its rightful scope.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., has signaled he was satisfied with the information he's received so far while the top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said Thursday that the probe was "far from over."
The Senate Armed Services Committee is conducting its own probe into the matter.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mike-johnson-says-second-venezuela-boat-strike-entirely-appropriate-after-seeing-classified-video