All posts tagged: Hegseth

Residents of French village say US defense chief Hegseth not welcome for D-Day visit

Residents of French village say US defense chief Hegseth not welcome for D-Day visit

Published by Sam Flores

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday travelled to Normandy to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings. But after making a speech at the American military cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, he conspicuously skipped afternoon’s main international ceremony marking the anniversary of the Allied landings, which helped herald the end of World War II. His presence was not missed by some residents of the village hosting the ceremony, Langrune-sur-Mer, who said the US official was not welcome there. “He has very warlike views and it seems to us that this man does not share our democratic values,” Sylvie Lamy Thepaut, a member of the municipal association Langrune en commun, told BFM TV. A message on the association’s website called for Hegseth’s visit to be cancelled on the grounds that the Pentagon chief “espouses values contrary to democracy, human rights and peace” and had made “numerous anti-European remarks”, “warlike statements” and “American supremacist pronouncements”. “The honor of Langrune, that of France, and the memory of the young Allied soldiers – American, British, Canadian – who died …

Pete Hegseth Branded ‘Absolute Bum’ Over Attack On Nato Countries At D-Day Commemoration

Pete Hegseth Branded ‘Absolute Bum’ Over Attack On Nato Countries At D-Day Commemoration

Published by Sam Flores

Pete Hegseth looks up as he delivers a speech at the US cemetery to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings. via Associated Press Pete Hegseth has been condemned after he used a D-Day commemoration to accuse Nato countries of not doing enough to tackle illegal immigration. The US defence secretary was branded “an absolute bum” after saying “European beaches are [being] stormed by different, dangerous ideologies”. Critics said his comments, at the Normandy American Cemetery in north-west France on the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings, were disrespectful to the memory of those who died in the Second World War. Nearly 4,500 Allied troops were killed attempting to liberate Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944. Hegseth said: “Sadly, today, different European beaches are stormed by different, dangerous ideologies. Beaches in Spain, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria, boats and men arrive. “When will European capitals do something about that invasion or is it too late? I pray not, and I believe not.” But his comments sparked a furious backlash on social media. Former Labour MP …

Hegseth Invokes Immigration and ‘Invasion’ in D-Day Speech in France

Hegseth Invokes Immigration and ‘Invasion’ in D-Day Speech in France

Published by Sam Flores

PARIS (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a D-Day anniversary speech on Saturday to appear to link immigration by sea to the wartime liberation of Europe, warning that the freedom won by Allied troops could prove temporary if leaders failed to defend it. Hegseth, speaking at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer in northwestern France during commemorations for the 82nd anniversary of the June 6, 1944, landings, said that today, “different European beaches are stormed by different dangerous ideologies.” “Beaches in Spain and Italy and Greece and Bulgaria. Boats and men arrive,” he said. “When will European capitals do something about that invasion? Or is it too late?” he added. “I pray not, and I believe not.” On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office condemned U.S. Vice President JD Vance for blaming immigration for the killing of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old British student stabbed to death in Southampton, even though both Nowak and his killer were British. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten …

Hegseth urges Asian leaders to boost military spending against China : NPR

Hegseth urges Asian leaders to boost military spending against China : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth waits to deliver his speech at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Saturday. Anupam Nath/AP hide caption toggle caption Anupam Nath/AP SINGAPORE — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on allies in Asia to ramp up military spending to counter China’s “historic military buildup” but also did not mention Taiwan in his speech on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key annual regional defense summit in Singapore. Hegseth’s appearance comes just over two weeks after President Donald Trump held a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing that both sides hailed as a success. Hegseth said U.S.-China relations are “better than they’ve been in many years” but that there is “rightful alarm” about China’s military activities in the region and beyond. “A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power and undermine the equilibrium we all seek to preserve,” Hegseth said to a room full of military, defense officials and diplomats. This is the defense secretary’s second appearance at the defense forum in Asia. …

Hegseth names investor who called Mamdani ‘Islamist’ to Pentagon tech board

Hegseth names investor who called Mamdani ‘Islamist’ to Pentagon tech board

Published by Sam Flores

The Defense Department has appointed 33 members to its recently established Science, Technology and Innovation Board (STIB) — one of whom is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist accused of making Islamophobic remarks targeting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced on social media that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth named Shaun Maguire,… Source link

Trump Brags If Iran Doesn’t Give Him What He Wants, Hegseth Will ‘Finish ‘Em Off’

Trump Brags If Iran Doesn’t Give Him What He Wants, Hegseth Will ‘Finish ‘Em Off’

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump bragged that if Iran doesn’t give the US what it wants amid negotiations for a potential agreement to end hostilities — then Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is going to “finish ’em off.” Trump made the remark during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday after a reporter asked him to describe where the talks with Iran are at in football terms, asking him, “What yard line would you be on?” Opting to skip the football analogies, the president responded, “They are starting to give us the things that they have to give us, and if they do, that’s great. And if they won’t, then the man on my left is gonna finish ’em off.” Trump was referring to Hegseth, who was seated on his left. “Is there a time frame in your mind?” the reporter followed up. Noting that it “happens quickly,” Trump said, “The problem is, every time I mention a time frame — for instance … we’ve been doing this for a few months. Vietnam lasted 19 …

Hegseth heads to Asia with Taiwan questions swirling

Hegseth heads to Asia with Taiwan questions swirling

Published by Sam Flores

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is headed to Asia this week, where he will attend the continent’s biggest defense forum as questions swirl about the U.S.’s support for Taiwan.  Hegseth, who is departing for this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Wednesday, will huddle with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Minister for Defense Chan Chun… Source link

The USDA secretary is a dangerous religious zealot like Pete Hegseth

The USDA secretary is a dangerous religious zealot like Pete Hegseth

Published by Sam Flores

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins isn’t as dramatic with religious theatrics as some of her colleagues in Donald Trump’s Cabinet, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but that shouldn’t fool anyone. A recent lawsuit from staff members alleges that Rollins has been “promoting her own preferred brand of Christian beliefs and theology to the captive audience of employees,” largely through proselytizing emails sent to the whole staff at the USDA, which make them “fear the negative consequences of not sharing the Secretary’s religion.” The details in the lawsuit reveal that the former Cotton Bowl Queen is just as committed a Christian nationalist as the more belligerent Hegseth. That might seem like a bold claim at first blush. Hegseth has drawn attention for his aggressive, even violent rhetoric that treats Christianity as a war-mongering faith focused more on punishing non-believers than the more Jesus-like aspirations of love and charity. The defense secretary is so devoted to reimagining Jesus as a vengeful prophet that he got caught giving a sermon-like speech in which he appeared to pass off dialogue …

Republican lawmaker says Hegseth ‘makes Kristi Noem seem like a 5-star recruit’ in blistering takedown

Republican lawmaker says Hegseth ‘makes Kristi Noem seem like a 5-star recruit’ in blistering takedown

Published by Sam Flores

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s handling of the Iran war, saying that he makes “Kristi Noem seem like a 5-star recruit.” The North Carolina lawmaker, who is retiring at the end of his current term, spoke out Sunday against Hegseth’s handling of the ongoing war with Iran and the reported peace deal that the Trump administration claims is nearly reached. Tillis told CNN’s State of the Union that the deal comes after Hegseth claimed the U.S. “obliterated” Iran, noting that the secretary was “in a position to, pretty much, dictate terms.” “When you see these mistakes made by Hegseth…With all of these mistakes in total, it’s beginning to make Kristi Noem look like a five-star recruit,” Tillis said. Tillis, a frequent critic of Trump, suggested that the reported details of the agreement represent a shift in the administration’s stance on the war. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis slammed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s handling of the war in Iran, and said his work makes Kristi Noem look good (AFP/Getty) “We were told about …

Hegseth Steps Away From War Duties to Campaign Against Trump Foe

Hegseth Steps Away From War Duties to Campaign Against Trump Foe

Published by Sam Flores

By Phil Stewart and Jasper Ward WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) – Defense ⁠Secretary ⁠Pete Hegseth campaigned on Monday for ⁠a former Navy SEAL who is challenging one of President Donald Trump’s ​top Republican targets in Congress, in a highly unusual appearance for a U.S. military leader. At a rally in ‌Kentucky, Hegseth endorsed Republican candidate Ed ‌Gallrein and criticized incumbent Representative Thomas Massie, who has been at odds with Trump over major ⁠legislation and ⁠led the drive to release government files on the convicted sex offender ​Jeffrey Epstein. The two face off on Tuesday in what has become the most expensive House of Representatives primary in history.   “Too often, Thomas Massie has acted like his job is to stand apart from the movement that President Trump leads ​instead of strengthening it,” Hegseth said.  It is highly unusual for defense secretaries to appear at ⁠political events, ⁠especially during wartime, as ⁠the U.S. military ​is meant to be apolitical. However, Hegseth has challenged norms since taking the job last year ​by leading Christian prayer services ⁠at the …