Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set off laughter online after a video showed him trailing well behind a group of troops during a workout in San Diego.
The clip, one of several short videos that went viral Wednesday, shows a pack of troops running around a track and passing the camera. Moments later, Hegseth finally comes into view behind the group.
The display from President Donald Trump’s so-called secretary of war prompted former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock to offer a serious question.
“Who is working on protecting our troops and bring an end to the war?” she wrote on X. "Get this loser @PeteHegseth a job at a MAGA gym.”
“Where’s Pete? Oh there he is,” MeidasTouch editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski said in a social media post.
“This is the funniest s--- of all time…” the Tennessee Holler, a political commentary account, wrote. “Wait for it…”
Hegseth joined Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing for a workout at the Miramar Sports Complex in San Diego, Fox News Digital reported. The workout reportedly included push-ups, pull-ups, weighted lunges, burpees and other exercises spread across 10 stations.
Progressive influencer Keith Edwards joked about the running clip: “Me at CrossFit,” while podcaster Akilah Hughes quipped: “No slowies.”
“Lmao I needed that laugh,” another X user wrote.
But that wasn’t the only footage of Hegseth’s Wednesday morning workout that caught attention. Another of the videos circulating online showed Hegseth working with a medicine ball before appearing exhausted.
“Pete Hegseth struggles while working out with troops in San Diego,” FactPost News wrote while sharing the clips.
“Low T at it again,” suggested progressive commentator LanaQuest.
Who is working on protecting our troops and bring an end to the war?Get this loser @PeteHegseth a job at a MAGA gym.
— Barbara Comstock (@BarbaraComstock) October 7, 2026