1. No Real Experience Running Anything Bigger than a TV Segment
Hegseth’s main gig has been as a Fox News talking head. Sure, he served in the military (props for that), but he’s never had the kind of leadership experience it takes to manage the Pentagon, which has a budget larger than some countries' economies. Talking tough on TV doesn’t mean you can run a department of over two million people, including active-duty troops and civilians.
2. His Obsession with Culture Wars
Hegseth spends more time ranting about “woke” policies than talking about actual defense strategies. He’s obsessed with things like banning diversity training and downplaying sexual harassment issues in the military. Newsflash: the defense secretary’s job is to defend the country, not wage a culture war against inclusivity.
3. Fox News Puppet
The guy’s basically a walking, talking mouthpiece for Fox News’ outrage machine. Do we really want someone who takes their marching orders from a TV network to be in charge of national defense? It’s like giving the nuclear codes to a guy who gets his foreign policy tips from a teleprompter.
4. Questionable Judgment
Remember when he bragged about not washing his hands because “germs are fake”? If you can’t take basic hygiene seriously, how the hell are you supposed to handle nuanced geopolitical threats like cyber warfare or China’s military expansion?
5. Zero Diplomatic Skills
Hegseth’s bombastic, my-way-or-the-highway attitude might make for entertaining TV, but it’s the exact opposite of what’s needed in delicate diplomatic situations. Imagine this guy in NATO meetings—he’d probably call the French “snowflakes” and piss off half of Europe.
6. Loyalty to Trump Over the Country
Hegseth has repeatedly demonstrated that his loyalty is to Trump, not the Constitution, not the military, and definitely not the American people. He parrots whatever MAGA talking point is hot that day, which is dangerous when you need someone to make independent, critical decisions about national security.
7. He’s a Walking PR Disaster
The dude’s antics, from his ridiculous hot takes to his hygiene confessions, make him a magnet for controversy. Do we really need that kind of baggage in a position that requires trust, competence, and global respect?