Overview
- In newly resurfaced Fox appearances from 2016 reported by CNN’s KFile and Mediaite, Pete Hegseth said troops would not follow unlawful commands and criticized Donald Trump’s talk of torture and targeting terrorists’ families.
- As defense secretary, Hegseth has condemned a recent video by six Democratic lawmakers as “despicable” and confirmed a Pentagon review of retired Navy commander and Senator Mark Kelly, who he notes remains subject to the UCMJ.
- President Trump escalated his response by labeling the lawmakers’ video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” and calling them traitors in subsequent social media posts.
- The FBI is questioning the six lawmakers about their remarks, a move they denounce as intimidation, with Rep. Elissa Slotkin and others defending their message as upholding their oath to the Constitution.
- A White House spokesperson argued that Trump’s actions have been lawful and accused the lawmakers of sowing doubt in a clear chain of command, as some retired officers also criticized the video’s message to troops.