Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, is facing mounting backlash following several reports that have surfaced, accusing him of inappropriate behavior, including drunken antics at a strip club and multiple instances of arriving to work while intoxicated.
These revelations have thrown his nomination into jeopardy, with many questioning his fitness to lead the nation’s military. However, Hegseth remains defiant in the face of the allegations. On Wednesday morning, he posted a message on X (formerly Twitter), rejecting the criticism and doubling down on his stance.
“I’m doing this for the warfighters, not the warmongers,” he wrote. “The Left is afraid of disrupters and change agents. They are afraid of Donald Trump — and me. So they smear with fake, anonymous sources & BS stories. They don’t want the truth. Our warriors never back down, and neither will I.”
Despite his bold response, many commentators have dismissed Hegseth’s defiance, citing the damning reports about his conduct. Leaked accounts from former colleagues at Fox News and the right-wing group Concerned Veterans for America have continued to surface, shedding light on his behavior. Journalist Chris Cilizza remarked, “This is the last gasp, I think. Feels almost over.”
Social media users have also weighed in, expressing disdain for Hegseth’s response. One X user, Greg Camp, wrote, “We recognize the damage that the two of you can do, and we are repulsed by you. Don’t confuse that for fear of you.” Former Republican lawmaker Joe Walsh expressed his disappointment with Hegseth’s refusal to take responsibility for his actions.
“This is what Trump has taught his followers,” Walsh said. “Never admit wrongdoing, never apologize, never express any shame for anything bad you’ve done. Trump is humanly incapable of shame. His followers have learned from him. Hey Pete, undergo an FBI background check tough guy.”
Progressive commentator Mehdi Hassan also took issue with Hegseth’s description of himself as an opponent of “warmongers.” Hassan pointed out Hegseth’s past support for the Iraq War and his suggestion of a pre-emptive strike on North Korea, asking, “‘Warmongers’? Hegseth was once a big backer of the Iraq war.”
In response to the criticism, one X user posted a video of the Hindenburg crashing, drawing a stark comparison to Hegseth’s embattled nomination.
