With claims flying that Pete Hegseth’s orders might have led to the commission of war crimes, President Trump sounded like he was putting some distance between himself and his defense secretary.

President Donald Trump will hold a meeting at the White House on Monday evening about next steps on Venezuela, sources familiar with the matter told CNN, as the administration intensifies its pressure campaign on the country and questions mount about whether the military is exceeding its lawful authority.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly told SEAL Team 6 to kill every individual aboard a suspected drug-trafficking boat.

The Defense Department said it would investigate the retired Navy captain after he participated in a video calling on troops to refuse illegal orders.

President Donald Trump will meet with his national security team Monday afternoon as bipartisan scrutiny mounted over a report that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order in September

Administration allies say they are fed up with the Defense Department’s third-most senior leader and his foreign policy surprises.

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism after a high-level meeting between US officials and a Ukrainian delegation in Miami on Sunday, suggesting there was a “good chance” of a deal to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.