(NewsNation) — In a Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump defended boat strikes in the Caribbean and suggested that strikes on land could be coming “soon.”
Cabinet officials echoed common refrains from the president, disparaging the previous administration for the systems they inherited and attacking the media for coverage. Several officials also talked about efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, a key goal of the Trump administration.
The president opened the meeting by touting investments from foreign countries.
He also criticized reporters who asked about his physical health, saying he got “all As” and “aced” a cognitive exam, which he claimed most people would not do well on.
Hegseth defends boat strikes
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touted increased recruitment and said spirits have increased in the military since Trump’s election. He spoke about removing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts from the military and focusing on lethality.
Hegseth has faced pressure after reports that he said “kill everybody” when ordering a follow-up strike on an alleged drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing survivors hanging onto the wreckage.
It has raised concerns about illegal orders and the responsibility of others in the chain of command to refuse to obey unlawful commands.
“We’ve only just begun striking narco boats and putting narco terrorists at the bottom of the ocean,” Hegseth said. We’re taking the fight to these designated terror organizations, and it’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re stopping the drugs. We’re striking the boats, and we’re defeating narco-terrorists.”
In November, a group of Democratic lawmakers released a video reminding those serving in the military that they should refuse to carry out illegal orders, prompting Trump to accuse them of treason and suggest that execution should be the punishment.
When asked about the strikes by a reporter, Trump said he didn’t know about the second strike and also said he wanted attacks on boats.
“I want those boats taken out,” Trump said.
Hegseth again defended the strikes and the process by which the administration determines whether a boat is allegedly carrying drugs and whether to strike.
He said he did not personally see any survivors of the first strike on a boat.
“I watched that first strike live. I didn’t stick around. A couple hours later, that commander, which he has the complete authority to do, [gave the order] to sink the boat and ultimately eliminate the threat,” Hegseth said. “It was the right call; we have his back.”
Hegeseth lashed out at reporters for how the military is covered, accusing journalists of creating fake stories.
Affordability and the economy
Trump honed in on the issue of affordability, which he said was a fake narrative used by Democrats, talking about bringing down the price of eggs and saying he inherited the “worst inflation in history.”
“Affordability is a hoax started by Democrats,” Trump said.
Trump also continued his criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whom he has attacked for not lowering interest rates enough. The president suggested Powell will not be in the role much longer.
When asked, Trump said the administration has considered about 10 candidates for the next Fed chair and has narrowed it down to one.
The president also celebrated his effort to lower drug prices. The administration has made some deals with drug companies to lower prices for Medicaid recipients and to offer drugs direct-to-consumer at a discount through a Trump RX website. Medicare also negotiated lower prices on 15 common, high-cost drugs. The deals will not apply to the majority of Americans who have employer-sponsored coverage or purchase insurance through the marketplace.
Trump said that next year would be the largest tax refund year, with refunds given because of tariffs. He also suggested that in the not-so-distant future, Americans would no longer have to pay income tax because of tariffs.
Touting success in the economy, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said “the best is yet to come” and that next year would be the year for Main Street to see improvements based on the administration’s policies.
Immigration and deportation
On the border, Trump continued his habit of attacking President Joe Biden for immigration and border policies. He then touted the success of his own administration.
“Illegal border crossings along the US-Mexico border have plummeted to the lowest levels ever recorded, and nobody talks about that anymore; it’s crazy,” Trump said.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke about the administration’s efforts to deport immigrants who crossed into the country illegally.
As the president did, she attacked the Biden administration’s policies, suggesting that Democrats purposely allowed people into the country who had ill intentions.
Trump also said that immigrants from certain countries, including Somalia, are not wanted in the U.S.
“We’re gonna go the wrong way if we keep taking garbage into our country,” Trump said as he called Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., “garbage.”
Wars and conflicts
The meeting also comes as tensions with Venezuela continue after Trump ordered the airspace over Venezuela closed. That prompted concerns that the U.S. is preparing to carry out strikes in the country, an escalation from recent strikes on boats.
When asked about strikes on boats, Trump also indicated that he would pursue action against Venezuela on land if necessary.
He later said that strikes on land would start “very soon.” The president also indicated that the strikes would not necessarily be limited to one country.
When it comes to foreign affairs, Trump complained that he should have gotten the Nobel Prize for ending wars, including saying that he should have gotten Nobels for each conflict he ended. He referenced comments that he would get a Nobel if he ended the war in Ukraine.
“What about the other wars? India-Pakistan, think of all the wars I ended. I should get the Nobel prize for every war I’ve ended, but I don’t want it. I don’t want to be greedy,” he said.
DOJ did not address Epstein files
The Justice Department is facing a deadline to release the Epstein files after Trump signed a law mandating the full files be made public. Attorney General Pam Bondi has said the department will comply, and the department has until Dec. 19 to release the information.
Bondi did not discuss the Epstein files in her remarks, instead focusing on the number of times the administration has been sued and the successes that have happened with the Supreme Court.
She also spoke about efforts to prosecute those who have allegedly assaulted federal agents deployed in U.S. cities.
“We’ve charged more than 500 defendants with assault on federal officers thanks to your directive,” she said.