The official X account for the newly renamed U.S. “Department of War” shared a video of a U.S. Coast Guard boat rescuing eight people from a disabled boat off the coast of Venice, Florida. According to the Coast Guard report on Saturday, “An Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew located the boaters aboard their disabled vessel in 2 to 3-foot seas and 5-10 knot winds at 9:32 p.m.”
The Department, headed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reported: “@USCoastGuard Station Cortez rescued eight boaters after their 26‑foot vessel became disabled 35 miles west of Venice, Fla. All passengers were safely returned to the Venice Inlet boat ramp with no injuries reported.”
.@USCoastGuard Station Cortez rescued eight boaters after their 26‑foot vessel became disabled 35 miles west of Venice, Fla.
All passengers were safely returned to the Venice Inlet boat ramp with no injuries reported. pic.twitter.com/3licydqUgQ
— Department of War
(@DeptofWar) November 17, 2025
The grainy infrared video of the rescue — which at first glance looks similar to the videos the Pentagon has shared of fatal U.S. military attacks on boats in the Caribbean which the Trump administration claims carried drug traffickers allegedly heading to the United States — prompted many sarcastic comments.
One replied: “I thought for sure the boat was gonna explode,” and “See, they didn’t blow it up!” Another replied: “this happens quite a lot in FL , why is this news?” Another chimed in: “Happens quite often, rescuing boaters.”
The regular occurrence of such a common operation — assisting a boat in distress — fueled questions about why the Pentagon chose to share this specific video, particularly as the Coast Guard is not operated under the Defense Department but is administered directly under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime.
[NOTE: Before coming under the jurisdiction of DHS, the Coast Guard operated under the Department of Transportation and, before that, the Treasury Department. During or in preparation for war, it can be transferred to the Navy and operated under DOD on an order from the President or by an act of Congress.]
Others commented on the surprising nature — some implied strangeness — of the share by Hegseth’s DOD, especially since the Secretary has vowed to emphasize “lethality” and “war fighting” during his tenure — neither of which describe the video content.
As seen below, in June, a USCG Station Cortez crew helped a 21-foot vessel “about 30 nautical miles west of Egmont Key that was taking on water after a good Samaritan had reported the boat in distress.” The crew was sent over with a dewatering pump to help “remove water from the bilge and escorted the vessel safely back to the boat ramp.”
Note: After the rescue this weekend, Petty Officer 2nd Class Tyler Beasley, a USCG Station Cortez boarding officer, reminded boaters: “Before going out on the water make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.” He added, “We recommend being as specific as possible so rescue crews have a reliable place to start searching in case of emergency.”