WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid bipartisan backlash over reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered all crew members aboard suspected drug smuggling boats on Sept. 2 to be killed.

The White House said on Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized an admiral to conduct the strikes that killed 11 people on a vessel from Venezuela allegedly carrying illegal narcotics.

Washington has carried out a concerted strike campaign against suspected drug boats in which least 83 people have been killed.

According to The Washington Post, the boat strike initially left two survivors. A second strike was reportedly ordered to comply with Hegseth's directive.

Legal scholars and lawmakers from both parties have scolded the administration for providing little evidence justifying the lethal attacks

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was slammed for making a joke out of the ongoing strikes against boats leaving Venezuela after posting several photos of Franklin the Turtle blowing up boats.

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Sunday he believes "it's very possible there was a war crime committed" in the first strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat.