Do we like Pete Hegseth?
Our score: 2 out of 10. A court found his trans service ban likely driven by animus, and the nicer side of his record is thin or contested.
Hegseth came up through the conservative veterans scene, running Concerned Veterans for America until he resigned as executive director in January 2016. CBS later reported claims about his time there, including drinking on the job, which his lawyer denied. He told CBS he was “Not gonna dignify that with a response” when asked about it.
Then there's the 2017 hotel-room story. A woman accused him of sexual assault after a Republican women's event in Monterey, and police investigated but no charges were filed. His lawyer says he paid a settlement in 2020 because he feared for his Fox job, and that the encounter was consensual. Trump's team says he denied all the accusations. It's alleged, never proven, but a settlement is a settlement.
On the harm test, the biggest item is the trans military policy he rolled out as Defence Secretary. In June 2026 a divided D.C. Circuit panel found the ban likely unconstitutional and driven by animus, though it kept it in place against would-be recruits. His reply was “See you at SCOTUS”. He also told the brass that “politically correct” leadership ends “right now”, which tells you the tone.
Inside the building, it's rough. Reporting says about twenty generals, admirals and senior civilians have gone, including Army chief Gen. Randy George, who was asked to retire in April. Republicans like Tillis have gone public with their unhappiness. PolitiFact rated his claim that “Nobody was texting war plans” in the Signal chat as False, and his claim that the Women, Peace and Security program was a “Biden initiative” also False.
Then the boat strikes. Congress opened probes in late 2025 after reports of a follow-up strike on survivors of an alleged drug boat, and some Democrats demanded he resign. Hegseth cited the “fog of war” and said he did not see survivors when the second strike was ordered. Where you land depends on whether you buy that or think the law of war was breached, and the investigations were still open in the reporting we read.
He also tried to punish Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, over a video urging troops to refuse unlawful orders. A judge found the Pentagon likely violated Kelly's First Amendment rights and blocked the punishment, and the Pentagon appealed. Hegseth's line was “Sedition is sedition”. We couldn't find the appeal's outcome, so that one's still open.