A video clip that has gone viral on social media shows President Donald Trump speaking candidly about a military decision during the ongoing U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, in which he recounts a conversation about how to handle enemy shipping.
In the footage, Trump says: "I said, 'Why don't we just capture the ship?' He said, 'It's more fun to sink them.'"
The remarks have ignited fierce debate in Washington, with Democratic lawmakers calling for congressional oversight hearings. Several international legal experts cited the statement as raising questions about adherence to laws of armed conflict.
Political Reaction
Congressional Democrats immediately demanded a full briefing from the Pentagon. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the remarks "deeply disturbing" and said they warranted immediate investigation by the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Republican allies of the president defended the comments as taken out of context, with several calling the clip "edited" and "misleading."
International Response
The International Committee of the Red Cross issued a statement reminding all parties to the conflict that the law of armed conflict requires that vessels only be targeted if they qualify as legitimate military objectives, and that precautions must be taken to minimize civilian casualties.
The White House has not issued a formal statement on the video as of publication time.
