Category: Pete Hegseth

Victor Davis Hanson: Pentagon’s Partisan Letter Against Trump, Hegseth DEBUNKED

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown was fired from his post last month, along with several other high-ranking military officials. Many on the Left rushed to say that President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth were “politicizing” the Pentagon. However, “This is not a politicization of the Pentagon. It's the depoliticalization”, argues Victor Davis Hanson in today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ They said, ‘This is reckless, it hurts morale, and it will depress recruitment.’ Let’s analyze that for just a second. Recruitment reached near-record levels after the election of Donald Trump. It's on the way up. I was depressed prior to that. Why would it be depressed? If you go through the Pentagon data, it's very hard to decipher. “ More importantly, Leon Panetta signed this letter. He was one, also, of the 51 intelligence authorities that said, right on the eve of the election and a few days before the 2020 debate, that Hunter [Biden's] laptop, which was in the hands of the FBI and authenticated, had all the hallmarks of a Russian information, which meant disinformation, campaign. “ Bottom line: We don't need any more letters from so-called experts. They're always partisan. And they're to no effect.”

Victor Davis Hanson: Pete Hegseth’s Military

The Pentagon’s budget is going to shrink and Americans are going to get better “bang for their buck” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “Did you notice that of all the controversial Trump nominees—Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, RFK, Tulsi Gabbard—the Left went after Pete Hegseth the most vehemently? And he required JD Vance to break that tie. There was a reason for that. He is proposing radical changes in the Pentagon. Remember where we are right now with the Pentagon. We spend $820 billion a year. It's about 14% of the entire budget and it's immune to criticism. It really is. “And we are building $14 billion carriers. We're building $85 billion F-35s. We have built $140 million F-22s. We're seeing, in Ukraine and the Middle East, the entire mode of 21st-century warfare being revolutionized. It's more of—not that we're going to have bad quality, but it's more quantity than quality. They're flooding the zones with cheap drones—cheap drones on the ocean, in the air, and on land. “And we're not there yet. We're not doing it. So what Pete Hegseth wants to do is change the entire manner of procurement.”

Defense Secretary Hegseth Revokes Gen. Milley’s Security Clearance And Protection

RAMSTEIN-MIESENBACH, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 08: General Mark Milley attends a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the U.S. military's Ramstein air base on September 08, 2022 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group is a U.S.-led effort to bring together defense leaders from dozens of countries across the globe in order to facilitate military support for Ukraine in its ongoing efforts in fighting Russia's military invasion. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)
General Mark Milley attends a press conference after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at the U.S. military’s Ramstein air base on September 08, 2022 in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
2:58 PM – Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pulling the security protections and clearance of retired Joint Chiefs chairman General Mark Milley.

The new defense secretary is also tasking the new acting Inspector General to conduct a review board to determine if enough evidence exists for Gen. Milley to be stripped of a star in retirement based on his actions to “undermine the chain of command” during President Donald Trump’s first term, officials say.

The inspector general review will include “an inquiry into the facts and circumstances surrounding Gen. Milley’s conduct so that the Secretary may determine whether it is appropriate to reopen his military grade review determination,” Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot said.

“The secretary informed Gen. Milley today that he is revoking the authorization for his security detail and suspending his security clearance as well,” he said.

Milley is known for serving as chairman during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. The relationship started out strong. However, it worsened over time as Milley tried to advise Trump on multiple issues. 

He’s known for pushing back on the president’s interest in using force domestically to stop protestors after the death of George Floyd, and was at the center of a controversy in 2021 when he made independent calls to his Chinese counterpart. At the time, Trump said the calls were an act of treason, but Milley claimed the calls were routine and part of his responsibilities. 

During his final days as chairman, after Trump had left office, he was outspoken about his former boss. He said at his official retirement ceremony “we don’t take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator. We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator.”

“We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it,” he said at the time.

According to Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, the decision to strip Milley of his clearance and details was taken because “undermining the chain of command is corrosive to our national security, and restoring accountability is a priority for the Defense Department under President Trump’s leadership.”

Additional moves might include getting rid of Milley’s Army chief of staff portrait. Milley’s chairman portrait was stripped from the wall just hours after Trump was sworn in. 

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Pete Hegseth Begins First Day At Pentagon, Emphasizes Mission To Protect U.S. Sovereign Territory

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks with the media during his first official arrival at the Pentagon as Secretary in Washington, DC, January 27, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
12:35 PM – Monday, January 27, 2025

On his first day at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed a message regarding the mission of the Department of Defense (DOD).

According to Hegseth, who was greeted by a group of reporters, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., said it was “an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the country,” also noting, “The warfighters are ready to go.”

Hegseth then immediately shifted his focus to the border, recognizing that President Donald Trump was “hitting the ground running” with signed executive orders that designated cartels as international terrorist organizations while declaring an emergency at the southern border.

The DOD “snapped to” sending additional troops last week to install additional wall materials along the southern border, uplifting Trump and border czar Tom Homan’s efforts to ensure mass deportations.

“That is something the Defense Department absolutely will continue to do,” according to Hegseth.

“He’s [Trump] made it very clear. There is an emergency at the border,” Hegseth continued. “The protection of the sovereign territory of the United States is the job of the Defense Department.”

Last week, the Defense Department announced 1,500 active-duty service members and “additional air and intelligence assets” were being sent to the southern border “to augment troops already conducting enforcement operations in that region.”

After being asked whether more troops would be deployed to the border, Hegseth also added: “Whatever is needed at the border will be provided. Whether that is through state active duty, Title 32 or Title 10, because we are reorienting.” 

“This is a shift. This is not the way things have been done in the past,” Hegseth said. “The Defense Department will support the defense of the territorial integrity of the United States at our southern border to include reservists, National Guard and active duty in compliance with the Constitution, the laws of our land, and the directives of the commander in chief.” 

Hegseth, who served in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan, said he expected the White House to issue other executive orders later on Monday. These would include orders to halt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts inside the Pentagon, to reinstate troops who were “pushed out” due to COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and to implement the construction of an “Iron Dome for America,” Hegseth noted.

“Every moment I am here I am thinking about the guys and gals in Guam, in Germany, in Fort Benning, in Fort Bragg, on missile defense sites and aircraft carriers,” Hegseth stated. “Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting.” 

“We hold people accountable. I know the chairman agrees with that… The lawful orders of the President of the United States will be executed in this Defense Department swiftly and without excuse. We will be no better friend to our allies and no stronger adversary to those who want to test us and try us.” 

Additionally, in relation to aid for Afghans who previously collaborated with the U.S. government, the new secretary was questioned on that topic as well. In order to determine whether the payments are in line with his administration’s foreign policy, Trump issued an executive order last week that halted all U.S. international development aid for ninety days.

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Senate Advances Hegseth Nomination To Lead Department Of Defense Before Friday’s Final Decision

Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth attends the Commander and Chief Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump will attend some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth attends the Commander and Chief Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump will attend some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
3:10 PM – Thursday, January 23, 2025

The Senate has voted to advance the nomination of Pete Hegseth as the new secretary of the Department of Defense. 

On Thursday, the Senate advanced Hegseth’s nomination, despite objections from Democrats and some Republicans who have questioned his ability to lead the military. 

One Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), posted on X in regard to the Senate’s advancement, asserting that she would not be voting in favor of confirming Hegseth. 

“After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense,” Murkowski said in a statement on Thursday. “I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.”

Murkowski continued, attempting to raise concerns about Hegseth’s “lack of experience” in comparable executive positions, his previous “remarks on women” in combat, and the anonymous accusations of alcohol abuse and alleged sexual misconduct lodged against him.

Nevertheless, Hegseth has adamantly refuted these claims on numerous occasions.

According to Hegseth’s lawyer, Tim Parlatore, evidence gathered by a California DA’s office purportedly includes proof that the anonymous female accuser had filed false claims of sexual assault against another man in a different jurisdiction. Parlatore has been working to have these documents released to the public.

A spokeswoman for the Trump administration declared on Thursday that the “[22-page police report] corroborates what Mr. Hegseth’s attorneys have said all along. The incident was fully investigated and no charges were filed because police found the allegations to be false.” Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni also admitted that her office could not file charges since it didn’t have “proof beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Despite this, Murkowski continued to explain her position.

“Although he has recently revised his statements on women in combat since being nominated, I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” Murkowski said. “Women have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in combat and leadership roles, and they deserve to know that their leader honors and values their commitment to our nation.

“While the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking do nothing to quiet my concerns, the past behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, including infidelity on multiple occasions, demonstrate a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces,” Murkowski added. “Men and women in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and they deserve leaders who uphold those same standards.”

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) similarly voted not to confirm Hegseth — due to the allegations against him. 

The 51-49 vote to end debate on Hegseth’s nomination sets the stage for a final confirmation vote on Friday, when he is anticipated to secure the majority support he needs to join Trump’s Cabinet.

The Armed Services panel voted along party lines, 14-13, to waive the seven-day rule and advance the nominee.

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Rep. Anna Paulina Luna FIRES BACK at Dems for SMEARS of Pete Hegseth

Congresswoman and Air Force veteran Anna Paulina Luna joins Glenn to clear up one of the Democrats' biggest lies about Trump’s Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing: "Pete never said that he didn't want women to serve in the military. In fact, it's quite the opposite. But I have the same agreement in that there are certain roles that women SHOULD NOT be subjected to in the military." Plus, she discusses why she’s hopeful that the Trump administration will reveal the truth about UFOs and the mysterious New Jersey drones.