Leaning into culture war flashpoints, Hegseth says he has transformed U.S. military
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed junior military officers at Quantico, emphasizing a cultural shift toward a 'warrior' ethos and the removal of what he terms ideological influences. He defended his controversial firing of senior officers and criticized the media's coverage of military morale and munitions shortages.
Why it matters
The speech highlights a significant and polarizing transformation of the U.S. military's leadership and cultural priorities under the current administration.
At a gathering at the U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told hundreds of junior military officers and enlisted leaders that the Trump administration has achieved a cultural shift in the military.
"No fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors," Hegseth said on Wednesday. "The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in, with testosterone testing on top."
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in