Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, wasted no time outlining his vision for the U.S. military, emphasizing the need for a major overhaul.
During an interview on The Shawn Ryan Show on November 7, Hegseth declared that anyone within the military involved in “progressive” policies must be removed, including those tied to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and Critical Race Theory (CRT).
“Any military man who has been involved in the ‘progressive shit’ has to go,” Hegseth said bluntly, referencing top military leaders, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, generals, and admirals. He went further to argue that DEI and CRT have no place in the military, stressing the need for a clear focus on warfare and combat readiness. “You dedicate yourself to war, and that’s it,” he added, dismissing any distractions like DEI as unfit for military service.
Hegseth also voiced support for reinstating older combat standards, specifically those from the 1990s, and even suggested revamping military recruitment with more engaging and inspiring advertisements, similar to the blockbuster appeal of Top Gun: Maverick.
Criticizing the current leadership of the U.S. Army, he pointed out that trust between officers and soldiers has been eroded. “You have to restore it by putting sensible fighters in those positions who aren’t going to pander to politically correct nonsense,” Hegseth concluded.
