The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode Summary: GOP Warns of Democrat Plans to Target U.S. Troops as Trump & Hegseth Justify Military Action
Air Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)
Guests/Speakers: President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
Overview
In this episode, Ben Ferguson delivers a focused analysis on the aftermath of U.S. military strikes against narco-terrorists and the evolving political controversy. Central to the discussion are President Trump’s justification for these strikes, including attacks on drug boats near Venezuela, and mounting Democratic opposition—particularly their threats to investigate or prosecute military personnel for war crimes. The episode features direct excerpts from a cabinet meeting with responses from both President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, offering unfiltered insights into their rationale and the administration’s stance.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. President Trump’s Cabinet Meeting Transparency
[03:44–05:49]
- Ben Ferguson introduces the day’s main topic: President Trump publicly reinforcing his position on strikes against narco-terrorists following allegations from Democrats about potential war crimes by U.S. military personnel.
- Ferguson underscores the seriousness of the issue:
- Overdose deaths in America nearing “300 a day.”
- Accusations that Democrats, including Mark Kelly, are “defending the narco terrorists” rather than supporting military action.
2. President Trump’s Statement on Drug Boat Strikes
[06:23–08:27]
- Trump justifies military strikes, emphasizing the lives saved and scale of the fentanyl crisis:
- “All I know is this. Every boat that you see get blown up, we save 25,000 on average, lives, 25,000 lives.” [06:24]
- Paints fentanyl as an existential threat, uses anecdotes of parents losing children to overdoses.
- Trump clarifies he was not directly involved in specific operational decisions:
- “Somebody asked me a question about the second strike. I didn’t know about the second strike. Second strike. I didn’t know anything about people. I wasn’t involved in it.” [07:13]
- Reiterates support for offensive military posture:
- “I want those boats taken out and if we have to, we’ll attack on land also, just like we tackled sea.” [07:37]
- Credits Pete Hegseth for “an amazing job” in orchestrating the strikes.
3. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s Defense of Actions
[08:27–11:59]
- Hegseth frames the military strategy as a direct war on terrorism:
- “How do you treat Al Qaeda and ISIS? …You end the problem directly by taking a lethal kinetic approach. And that's the way President Trump has authorized the War Department to look at these cartels.” [09:05]
- Details about the operational procedures:
- Careful, evidence-based vetting: “The deliberative process, the detail, the rigorous, the intel, the legal, the evidence based way that we're able to withstand sources and methods...” [09:33]
- Authority delegated to military commanders for real-time decisions.
- On the controversial “second strike”:
- Hegseth didn’t personally witness survivors post-strike:
- “I did not personally see survivors, but I stand because the thing was on fire. It was exploded in fire smoke. You can't see anything.” [11:09]
- Hegseth didn’t personally witness survivors post-strike:
- Harsh criticism of the media and political critics:
- “This is called the fog of war. This is what you and the press don’t understand. You sit in your air conditioned offices… and you nitpick and you pull plant fake stories in the Washington Post about ‘kill everybody’ phrases on anonymous sources not based in anything, not based in any truth at all.” [11:17]
- Reaffirms commitment to decisive military action:
- “President Trump has empowered commanders, commanders to do what is necessary, which is dark and difficult things in the dead of night on behalf of the American people.” [11:40]
4. Allegations of Political Weaponization
[11:59–14:46]
- Ben Ferguson asserts that Democrats are threatening investigations/arrests of military personnel as psychological warfare aimed at undermining troop morale:
- “Democrats are now playing with the idea that they may come back when they gain power and start arresting our men and women in uniform… for what they are now describing as war crimes. This is psychological warfare.” [12:29]
- Draws a sharp contrast with the Biden administration:
- Points to past drone strikes under Biden—allegedly ignored by Democrats when children were killed.
- Accuses Democrats of a double standard and attempting to sow fear within the ranks.
- Predicts that threats of prosecution will increase:
- “I am going to make a prediction. There's a very good chance you're going to hear even more about this in the days and weeks ahead.” [13:15]
- Calls for continued support for military personnel and frames the debate as a fight for the country’s moral and legal integrity.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Donald Trump:
- “Every boat that you see get blown up, we save 25,000 on average, lives, 25,000 lives.” [06:24]
- “I want those boats taken out and if we have to, we’ll attack on land also…” [07:37]
- Pete Hegseth:
- “How do you treat Al Qaeda and ISIS? …You end the problem directly by taking a lethal kinetic approach.” [09:05]
- “President Trump has empowered commanders… to do what is necessary, which is dark and difficult things in the dead of night on behalf of the American people.” [11:40]
- Ben Ferguson:
- “Democrats are now playing with the idea that they may… start arresting our men and women in uniform… for what they are now describing as war crimes. This is psychological warfare.” [12:29]
- “We must make sure that our men and women in uniform are allowed to do their jobs and not worried about going to jail because of his psychotic Democratic Party.” [14:37]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:44]– Story Introduction: Trump Cabinet meeting and strike controversy
- [06:23]– Trump’s direct response: Justification and knowledge of strikes
- [08:27]– Hegseth explains operational decisions and rationale
- [11:09]– Details on the “second strike” and media criticism
- [11:59]– Ferguson’s commentary on political threats against troops
- [14:46]– Episode wrap-up and closing commentary
Tone & Language
The tone throughout the episode is combative, urgent, and unapologetically partisan. Ferguson positions himself as a truth-teller countering “mainstream” narratives, while both Trump and Hegseth employ direct, sometimes heated language to rally support for aggressive military action and castigate critics.
Summary Takeaway
This episode of The 47 Morning Update is a forceful defense of recent Trump administration actions against narco-terrorists, featuring candid exchanges from the President and his Secretary of War. The discussion centers on justifying military operations, denouncing accusations of war crimes as politically motivated, and warning listeners of escalating Democratic tactics intended to intimidate the military. The rhetoric is direct, emotionally charged, and designed to solidify conservative support in a period of heightened political scrutiny.