Trump’s controversial choice to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has come under intense scrutiny after his lawyer confirmed that a woman was paid not to go public with claims of sexual assault against his client.
Reports also surfaced that Hegseth was removed from leadership positions in two different veterans groups due to his binge drinking and personal misconduct on the job.
Instead of withdrawing his nomination, Pete Hegseth has a new strategy for winning over votes in the Senate: tell lies about things he’s said on camera.
Exclusive reporting from The New Republic revealed that Hegseth is lying to senators and the press about his past comments about women and the military.
During a Monday evening interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Hegseth claimed his comments were “misconstrued.”
However, just over a month ago on the Shawn Ryan Show, Hegseth said, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated.”
Learn more about Hegseth’s lies and his disdain for women in the military:
- Pete Hegseth is hoping you’ll forget he thinks women aren’t suited for combat roles in the military. Too bad he enthusiastically declared it on camera a little over a month ago.
- The vitriolic television host, who is also Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, appeared on Fox News Monday to try to clean up comments he made disparaging all female U.S. soldiers. It was less than convincing.
- “I also want an opportunity here, to clarify comments that have been misconstrued that I somehow ‘don’t support women in the military.’ Some of our greatest warriors, our best warriors out there are women, who serve—raised their right hand to defend this country, and love our nation, want to defend that flag, and they do it every single day around the globe,” Hegseth said.
- But little more than a month ago, Hegseth said he doesn’t believe women are even fit for active duty.
- “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,” Hegseth said during an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show in November.
- “We’ve all served with women, and they’re great. It’s just, our institutions don’t have to incentivize that in places where traditionally—not traditionally, over human history—men in those positions are more capable,” he said.
- Hegseth did not begin to explain whether it was being forced to carry around tampons or all the crying that made combat just so much more difficult. And to be clear, it is simply impossible for Hegseth to actually “support” women in the military while thinking, no, advocating that they aren’t suited for combat. It isn’t some kind of brain teaser; it’s just a lie. He’s lying to get a job—specifically, one that would put him in command of 1.3 million active duty troops, many of whom he finds less capable than their male counterparts.
Published: Dec 11, 2024 | Last Modified: Dec 30, 2024