Pete Hegseth

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

Hegseth Angers Critics With Franklin the Turtle Post

Secretary shares fake book cover showing children's book character firing RPG at drug boat

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, apparently making light of war crimes allegations , shared a meme Sunday showing the children's book character Franklin the Turtle firing a rocket-propelled grenade at a boat. The meme depicted a fake book cover with the title "Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists," the Hill reports....

Did Hegseth Go Too Far? What Critics Are Saying

Some see the killing of boat survivors as a violation of military and human rights codes

(Newser) - Pete Hegseth and the White House deny allegations that anything improper unfolded when special ops troops unleashed two separate missile strikes on a suspected drug boat—the second of which killed two survivors clinging to the wrecked vessel. But the issue only seems to be gaining steam. Background and opinions:...

White House Defends Second Strike on Boat

Hegseth and the special ops commander operated legally, says Karoline Leavitt

(Newser) - The White House on Monday defended as lawful two separate missile strikes on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, the second coming as two survivors clung to the vessel after the first strike. But White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also clarified that the second strike order came from the...

Trump: Hegseth Didn't Order Strike on Survivors

President says he trusts Pentagon chief's denial about drug boat controversy

(Newser) - President Trump is standing by Pete Hegseth amid controversy over a deadly military strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the Pentagon chief did not order a second strike specifically to kill two survivors from the initial strike. "Pete...

Congress Looks Into Report Hegseth Issued Kill Order

House, Senate panels pledge oversight of military operations in Caribbean

(Newser) - House and Senate committees have launched inquiries in response to reporting that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that everyone on a vessel the US says was smuggling drugs in the Caribbean be killed . Hegseth gave the spoken command after two people appeared to have survived the initial US strike in...

After Boat Attack, 2 Survivors Were Blown Out of Water: WaPo

Source says DOD chief Hegseth gave order to 'kill everybody' in first boat strike in early September

(Newser) - A new report reveals that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly gave a chilling order during the Trump administration's first military strike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean. "The order was to kill everybody," a source said to be familiar with the operation tells the Washington ...

South Park's Thanksgiving Chaos Involves Hegseth

He mistakes holiday marathon for Antifa uprising

(Newser) - South Park takes aim at both the US government and Saudi Arabia in its latest episode, a Thanksgiving special that puts the town's holiday marathon at the center of the chaos. With regular sponsors unable to foot the bill—Stan's Tegridy Weed Farms is out of business, and...

FBI Asks to Interview 6 Lawmakers Over Video

Democrats reminded troops that they have a duty to refuse illegal orders

(Newser) - The FBI has asked to interview six Democratic lawmakers who told military personnel that they must refuse illegal orders. The lawmakers confirmed the FBI request to the Washington Post on Tuesday. The FBI request to schedule interviews comes after the Pentagon threatened to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty,...

Pentagon Moves to End Partnership With Scouts

Defense secretary cites DEI initiatives in draft memo to Congress

(Newser) - The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to end a century-old partnership with Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, according to documents reviewed by NPR . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has drafted a memo to Congress criticizing the organization as "genderless," claiming it no longer supports "the future...

US Calls Cartel a Terror Group; Venezuela Says It Doesn't Exist

US seeks 'new options' by labeling Cartel de los Soles it says Maduro runs as a terror organization

(Newser) - Venezuela is pushing back hard against a US plan to label the so-called Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, dismissing the move as a "ridiculous fabrication" ahead of a formal announcement expected Monday. The Trump administration alleges the group is run by high-ranking Venezuelan officials, with President...

US Military Announces Its 20th Boat Strike

4 are reported dead after Caribbean Sea hit that US government alleges targeted a drug vessel

(Newser) - The US military's 20th strike on a boat accused of transporting drugs has killed four people in the Caribbean Sea, the US military said Friday, coming as the Trump administration escalates its campaign in South American waters. The latest strike happened Monday, according to a social media post on...

Hegseth: Latest Drug Boat Strikes Kill 6

Pair of boats destroyed in the eastern Pacific bring total number of US hits at 19 since September

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday announced the latest in a series of strikes on boats accused of ferrying drugs—six people were killed in attacks on two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The dual strikes on Sunday bring the total number of known attacks up to 19 and...

Hegseth Announces 16th Deadly 'Drug Boat' Strike

Death toll is now at least 66 in controversial strikes

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced yet another deadly strike on a boat accused of ferrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, coming the same day an aircraft carrier began heading to the region in a new expansion of military firepower, the AP reports. The attack Tuesday killed two people aboard...

In Vietnam, Hegseth Talks About War's Legacy, Arms Deals

Transport helicopters and planes are under discussion

(Newser) - On a trip to Hanoi on Sunday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for expanded military cooperation as the US and Vietnam negotiate potential arms deals. Hegseth, speaking ahead of a meeting with Defense Minister Phan Van Giang, said closer military ties would serve the interests of both nations, Reuters reports....

Hegseth, Noem Among Cabinet Members Living in Military Digs

Senior US officials take over DC residences meant for top generals, admirals, drawing some criticism

(Newser) - Several senior Trump administration officials have moved into military housing traditionally reserved for top-ranking officers in the Washington, DC, area, reports the New York Times . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now resides in Quarters 8 at Fort McNair—the historic home typically assigned to the Army's vice chief of staff...

Report: White House Wanted Live Bombs at Navy Celebration

One source said officials claimed President Trump 'needed to see explosions'

(Newser) - The White House pressed US Navy officials to launch 2,000-pound live bombs instead of dummy explosives during an elaborate military demonstration for the service's 250th anniversary celebration that President Trump attended, two people familiar with planning for the event told the AP . One person familiar with the planning...

Hegseth Says US Strikes 4 Alleged Drug-Running Boats

14 killed, with one survivor in eastern Pacific

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the US military carried out three strikes Monday in the waters of the eastern Pacific against boats suspected of carrying drugs, killing 14 and leaving one survivor. The announcement made on social media on Tuesday marks a continued escalation in the pace of the...

Pentagon Sending Aircraft Carrier to South America

It's the latest US military escalation in the region

(Newser) - Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said Friday the military is deploying an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America, a move the Washington Post describes as a "major escalation" of the US military presence in the region. Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to...

Shrapnel Hits CHP Vehicle During Controversial Drills

Newsom, Vance clashed over live fire

(Newser) - Metal shrapnel from an exploding artillery shell fell hit and damaged a California Highway Patrol vehicle as personnel at a US Marine Corps base fired live rounds over a highway—against the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom—during weekend exercises observed by Vice President JD Vance, the AP reports. The...

Maureen Dowd Unloads on 'Muttonhead' Hegseth
Maureen Dowd Unloads
on 'Muttonhead' Hegseth
OPINION
Oct 19, 2025 6:53 AM CDT

Maureen Dowd Unloads on 'Muttonhead' Hegseth

New York Times columnist predicts his crackdown on reporters will backfire

(Newser) - New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd goes after newly rechristened war secretary Pete Hegseth in unwithering fashion in her new column. Among the insults hurled: "muttonhead," "utterly unqualified and looking like the third lead of a cheesy spring-break movie," "paranoid," "immature and...

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>
Most Read on Newser