Defense Secretary Faces Backlash Over Invitation to Far-Right Conspiracy Theorist

Pentagon officials express alarm as Pete Hegseth's team reportedly invites Jack Posobiec, a figure tied to extremist rhetoric, on a high-profile European trip.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's team reportedly invited Jack Posobiec, a far-right activist known for promoting conspiracy theories, to join his first overseas trip to Germany, Belgium, and Poland.
Pentagon officials raised concerns about the invitation, questioning the message it sends to U.S. allies and the military's nonpartisan reputation.
Posobiec, credited with spreading the 'Pizzagate' conspiracy theory, has a history of extremist rhetoric, including statements against democracy and associations with white nationalist movements.
The trip coincides with controversial U.S. policy positions on Ukraine, including Hegseth's assertion that Ukraine's pre-2014 borders and NATO membership are unrealistic goals in peace negotiations.
Critics, including defense experts and military officials, view the invitation and Hegseth's actions as indicative of the Trump administration's politicized approach to defense and diplomacy.