Additional Coverage:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing online criticism after struggling to keep up with troops during a workout session in San Diego.
Hegseth, who has been vocal about promoting “anti-woke,” high-testosterone military forces, appeared visibly challenged during a morning exercise with U.S. Marines.
Wearing a T-shirt and shorts, he seemed out of breath and uncoordinated while attempting bear crawls. Another video broadcast on C-SPAN showed him lagging significantly behind service members during a track run, notably falling behind a female Marine.
Social media users quickly seized on the footage. Some joked about Hegseth being “outpaced by a female service member,” while others sarcastically suggested he might “discharge” her for outperforming him. Comments also questioned his leadership style, with one user asking, “What happened to leading from the front?”
Critics also raised concerns about the Defense Secretary’s physical condition. “This is sad!!
You either don’t do it, or you get in shape!!! I want my SECDEF to win wars, not PT!!!”
one person wrote. Conversely, some supporters noted that his fitness efforts still resonate with certain groups.
In addition to the workout controversy, some were surprised to see Hegseth in San Diego after former President Trump made remarks suggesting indifference toward the city’s potential vulnerability to an Iranian attack. “Surprised he’s in San Diego considering Trump wouldn’t mind Iran destroying it,” one user commented.
Hegseth has been a strong advocate for improving physical fitness standards in the military. Last September, during a speech to military commanders in Quantico, Virginia, he criticized overweight service members, saying, “It’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops.”
This year, he has also promoted testosterone deficiency screenings for male service members over 30, aiming to maintain optimal performance levels. The initiative, however, has faced legal challenges from a federal judge. In a July video posted online, Hegseth emphasized the importance of these health checks, stating, “By addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality.”
Despite his push for greater fitness and readiness, recent footage of Hegseth struggling alongside troops has sparked a wave of online commentary and scrutiny about his own physical preparedness.