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Coverage dated December 1, 2025 to December 2, 2025

GOP senator: Hegseth is either lying about second boat strike or incompetent

Headline from CNN

Republican Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of either lying in his public response to news reports that the US military carried out a follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat in September or being incompetent.

CNN's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

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Reports & sources

5 articles, oldest first.

  1. CNN

    GOP senator: Hegseth is either lying about second boat strike or incompetent (opens CNN)

    Published

    CNN's feed description

    Republican Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of either lying in his public response to news reports that the US military carried out a follow-up strike on a suspected drug boat in September or being incompetent.

  2. Salon

    “Either lying or incompetent”: Bipartisan scrutiny of Hegseth intensifies (opens Salon)

    Published

    Salon's feed description

    New reporting on a September strike has prompted bipartisan calls for clarity.

  3. Jezebel

    Even Rand Paul Thinks Pete Hegseth Is Either Lying or Incompetent (opens Jezebel)

    Published

    Jezebel's feed description

    Pete Hegseth has changed his story on the alleged "double tap" boat strike so many times that even Rand Paul is calling out the BS.

  4. The New Republic

    Rand Paul Drags Pete Hegseth: Either Lying to Us or Incompetent (opens The New Republic)

    Published

    The New Republic's feed description

    Senator Rand Paul is done with the defense secretary’s twisted explanations of that second strike on an alleged drug boat.

  5. Washington Examiner

    Rand Paul says Hegseth is either ‘lying’ about boat strike or ‘incompetent’ (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    Sen. Rand Paul blaster Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for his response to the controversy surrounding the Sept. 2 suspected cartel boat strike.