Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a message to armed services members in blue cities that's prompting outcry about bringing politics into his role.
On Friday, Hegseth posted a video to his official Secretary of War X account with the headline, "TO OUR WARRIORS—MAKE SURE TO VOTE!" However, online critics pointed out that the defense secretary shouldn't be involved in political activities per the Hatch Act and noticed the language Hegseth used.
Headquarters, a popular news account on X, described Hegseth as delivering a "thinly veiled campaign message to US service members, ordering them to vote in the midterms to overwhelm blue cities like Milwaukee and Detroit" and highlighted that he signed off by saying, "Keep our nation the land of the free!"
"The desperation of this absolute monster is frightening," warned disinformation expert and Kash Patel foe Jim Stewartson. "He is destroying the military piece by piece."
"Hegseth is incredibly unethical and needs help," decried veteran political strategist Donna Brazile. "Why? Our brave service members and women are patriots, regardless of their political affiliations. MY father was drafted to fight in the Korean War and served with honor and distinction. He instilled in us the values of love for God, church, family, and our beloved nation."
"I'm guessing Pete doesn't realize that after being completely s— on by this admin whose mistake has taken 18 lives and injured hundreds of military personnel," blasted political analyst and pollster Rachel Bitecofer, referring to the number of U.S. military deaths in the Iran war. "Not to mention the way they s— on the Lincoln."
"Hatch Act--anyone??!" pointed out national columnist Sophia Nelson.
"Just wrong," added Democratic strategist Leslie Marshall.
"Hegseth's whole 'I'm the warrior warfighter's best friend that's why I'm the secretary of war' bit it is so profoundly, viscerally repulsive given that he has been instrumental in covering up the real number of killed and injured troops in the pointless Iran war," slammed journalist Pedro Gonzalez. "In an administration filled with loathsome goons Hegseth is near the very top."