Pete Hegseth
ON THE RECORD · 49 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“It was a radical Islamist attack in uniform inside the ranks, and so he’s going to get a firing squad of soldiers – as it should be.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Hegseth described the Fort Hood shooting as a radical Islamist attack and said Hasan would face a firing squad.
“He's going to get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-15
Hegseth said the execution would be at Fort Hood and that Hasan would get a firing squad of soldiers.
“We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Hegseth announced that the US public would be able to watch the execution of Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood.
“people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15
Hegseth defended his decision to air Hasan's execution online amid criticism.
“Well, I kind of like the mentality we had in World War II, which was win.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-12
Hegseth expressed approval of the World War II-era mentality regarding the firing squad.
“We’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that there are serious consequences for these types of things,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-12
Hegseth told Real America's Voice that the execution should be public as a form of deterrence.
“It hadn’t been since World War II since we’ve done that,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-12
Hegseth noted that the US had not carried out a military firing squad execution since World War II.
“Because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-10
Hegseth says the public execution will show serious consequences for Hasan's crimes.
“We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-10
Hegseth defended making Hasan's execution public in an interview.
“gonna get a firing squad of soldiers - as it should be”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-09
Hegseth said in an interview with Real America's Voice that Hasan was going to get a firing squad of soldiers.
“Don’t care. We’ll see him on Dec. 3.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-10-08 · reported 2026-10-09
When asked Wednesday if Hasan had made any final requests, Hegseth dismissed the question and referenced the Dec. 3 execution date.
“Don't care. We'll see him on December 3rd.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-09
Asked whether Hasan had made any final requests or reached out to Trump, Hegseth said he did not care and they would see him on December 3rd.
“If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on Earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation and we will kill you,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-03-02 · reported 2026-10-01
Hegseth made the remark in a briefing on the third day of the war with Iran, used in a pro-Trump television ad.
“We didn’t start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. Their war on Americans has become our retribution against their ayatollah”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-03-02 · reported 2026-10-01
Hegseth made the statement in a briefing on the third day of the war with Iran, included in a taxpayer-funded ad.
“He reminded the world, as he has time and time again, being an American means something unbreakable,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-03-02 · reported 2026-10-01
Hegseth made the comment in a briefing on the third day of the war, featured in a taxpayer-funded ad airing during the midterm election run-up.
“The only focus, as you know, in your formations should be training, readiness, accountability, discipline and lethality. When you pursue those things, you don’t have to walk on eggshells.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth said military formations should focus on training, readiness, accountability, discipline and lethality.
“Personnel is policy at every single level.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth spoke at the US Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, about cutting general and admiral positions by 20 percent.
“To maintain global dominance, the United States must anticipate future operational environments and act decisively to develop the tools to dominate in them.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth issued a memo announcing Project Meridian, a government project to study the future of warfare.
“You can’t change a culture with the same people who enabled it,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth spoke at the US Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, arguing that a 20 percent reduction in general and admiral positions was overdue.
“We are witnessing rapid advances in artificial intelligence, autonomy, directed energy, robotics, biotechnology, among other critical high-tech areas. Combined, these new domains, new ways of fighting, and technological developments will profoundly alter the character of warfare,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth issued a memo announcing Project Meridian, a government project to study the future of warfare.
“no fatties, no trannies, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals, just warriors”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth added that only what he called warriors would be allowed in the US armed forces, as part of his effort to purge what he termed woke elements.
“We’ve ended the poisonous culture of risk aversion and empowered leaders at every single level to simply enforce standards,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-30 · reported 2026-09-30
Hegseth said the Pentagon had ended a culture of risk aversion and empowered leaders to enforce standards.
“untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Hegseth promised to 'untie the hands of our warfighters' as head of the renamed Department of War.
“restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
In his announcement video, Hegseth framed the mandatory testosterone screening policy as a health measure.
“on the leading edge of lethality”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Hegseth has the idea that testosterone will put the military 'on the leading edge of lethality.'
“incompatible with active duty”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Hegseth has described near-identical interventions in testosterone levels as 'incompatible with active duty' when they are for trans service members.
“Dads push us to take risks, moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Hegseth summed up his views on gender in the military in his 2024 book, The War on Warriors.
“High-T department of war”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Hegseth announced compulsory testosterone screening for military service members over 30 as part of forging what he calls a 'High-T department of war.'
“We’re reminding our warriors that their sole purpose is to be the most lethal fighting force on the planet. Full stop. We’re not here to do social engineering, or social justice, or gender-bending, or DEI, or dudes and dresses.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
On a recent campaign stop in Austin, Hegseth melded his messages on gender and violence.
“at the Department of War, we do training – not trannies”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-28
Hegseth summed up the pause on gender-affirming care on the campaign route using a transphobic slur.
“We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Hegseth downplayed media coverage of conditions aboard the Lincoln when speaking to reporters in August.
“We make sure every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-24
Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama that reports about low morale on the ship had been completely misrepresented.
“We will become an ‘AI-first’ warfighting force across all domains.”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-18
Hegseth issued this statement in January alongside the release of the Pentagon's 'AI Acceleration Strategy' document.
“We will unleash experimentation, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, focus our investments and demonstrate the execution approach needed to ensure we lead in military AI,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-18
Hegseth issued this statement in January when the Pentagon released its 'AI Acceleration Strategy' document.
“massive joint military and law enforcement raid,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-11
Hegseth described the Venezuela operation as part of a massive joint military and law enforcement raid lasting less than 30 minutes.
“I’ll hook you up to a f---ing polygraph!”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-08
Hegseth reportedly shouted at Christopher Grady, then the acting joint chiefs chairman, after press leaks about plans to give Elon Musk a Pentagon briefing on China.
“will destroy (and sink)”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-07
Hegseth wrote that the U.S. would destroy and sink Iranian oil tankers if Iran fires on U.S. vessels.
“It's simple: if Iran shoots at US ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-09-05 · reported 2026-09-06
Hegseth issued a threat on social media a day after Washington said it struck Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran attacking American warships.
“have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-02
Hegseth announced annual testosterone screening for soldiers aged 30 and over as part of an initiative to ensure combat readiness.
“leadership in assuming primary responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-16
In May, Hegseth praised South Korea's role in Korean Peninsula security during a Pentagon meeting.
“It demonstrates alliance burden-sharing that all of America’s partners would do well to follow,”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-16
Hegseth said South Korea's approach was a model of alliance burden-sharing.
“commitment to increase defense spending”
Pete Hegseth · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-16
In May, Hegseth praised South Korea during a meeting at the Pentagon.
“The reckless & shameless ‘American’ media completely & intentionally misrepresent the USS Abraham Lincoln,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-08-15 · reported 2026-08-15
Hegseth wrote on X accusing the media of intentionally misrepresenting conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“The brave Sailors of that Strike Group are very proud of their tough & historic mission. They embody resilience & excellence.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-08-15 · reported 2026-08-15
Hegseth wrote on X that the brave sailors of the strike group are proud of their tough and historic mission.
“incredible Americans on a historic mission.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-08-15 · reported 2026-08-15
Hegseth described troops serving across CENTCOM's area of responsibility as incredible Americans on a historic mission.
“Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas and those austere conditions with less port calls, it's incredible,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-08-14 · reported 2026-08-15
Hegseth told reporters Thursday that conditions on the carrier were completely misrepresented.
“To deepen our partnership, Iraq must assert its sovereignty and disarm the Iran-aligned militias responsible for 600+ attacks on U.S. personnel this spring,”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15
Hegseth wrote on X that Iraq must disarm Iran-aligned militias following a meeting with Iraq's prime minister at the Pentagon.
“A secure Iraq opens the door to strong commercial and defense cooperation.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15
Hegseth added that a secure Iraq opens the door to strong commercial and defense cooperation.
“The U.S. is also looking to the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Peshmerga and other Iraqi Kurdistan Region security forces, to lead in D-ISIS efforts as the OIR military missions winds down.”
Pete Hegseth · said 2026-07-15 · reported 2026-07-15
Hegseth said the U.S. is looking to Iraqi Security Forces to lead in counter-ISIS efforts as the OIR military mission winds down.