Additional Coverage:
- Pete Hegseth calls on military to purge ‘fat and shabby’ troops in fiery Army War College speech (themirror.com)
Embattled Defense Secretary Hegseth Addresses War College, Emphasizes Fitness and Appearance
Amid calls for his dismissal, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed the US Army War College in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of physical fitness and a sharp appearance for American troops, particularly leaders. He stated that troops need to be “fit, not fat. Sharp, not shabby.”
This echoes similar sentiments expressed by Hegseth on social media in March, where he used the term “sloppy” instead of “shabby.” At that time, he linked the standards to a broader initiative to make the Department of Defense “high and great again.”
During his address, Hegseth also touched on the theme of leaving “wokeness and weakness” behind, according to reports. His remarks come on the heels of allegations concerning a second potential leak of classified military information related to strikes in Yemen. Hegseth reportedly shared sensitive details, including takeoff times and target information, with a group of individuals that included family members.
Earlier this week, Hegseth dismissed these reports as media attempts to “slash and burn” his reputation, attributing the information to anonymous sources and disgruntled former employees. He maintained that he is focused on “putting the Pentagon back in the hands of warfighters.”
Following these latest allegations, reports have surfaced that the White House is actively seeking a replacement for Hegseth. While NPR cited an unnamed U.S. official confirming the search, Hegseth’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, has denounced the report as “fake news.”