Free Republic

Democrat California Governor Gavin Newsom is attacking Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over his statement that U.S. Marines are on “high alert” if needed to help National Guard troops with the out of control illegal immigration riots in Los Angeles, calling it “deranged behavior.” Governor Newsom’s press office also attacked Hegseth, responding to a post by Hegseth criticizing Newsom over the riots with a Reuters photo from Saturday that showed protesters in an intersection waving a Mexican flag in front of a burning automobile. Hegseth commented, “Another “mostly peaceful protest” brought to you by @GavinNewsom DEPORT.” Newsom’s press office replied,...

...2,000 National Guard troops will be sent to L.A. amid clashes over immigration raids... Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies use flash bang grenades and tear gas on protesters... "We'll come get you": L.A.'s top federal prosecutor says protesters are being investigated... Hegseth says Marines could be deployed. "Deranged", Newsom says...

Veterans gathered in Normandy on Friday to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings — a turning point in World War II that ultimately precipitated the downfall of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s regime. Roughly two dozen veterans who served in World War II traveled to the beaches of Normandy to honor the thousands that died on D-Day, as well as the tens of millions that died in the second World War. D-Day marked a significant turn in World War II as it set the stage for the defeat of Nazi Germany by effectively establishing a Western front. It essentially...

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the removal of Harvey Milk's name from a Navy replenishment ship, and the move stirred up the inevitable controversy. It was intended to, just as the original naming of the ship was meant to be a poke in the eye of opponents of DEI. The choice to name the ship after Milk was meant to send a signal that the Navy was honoring Harvey Milk for being a gay rights icon, and the choice to remove it was meant to tell people that Trump's Navy doesn't honor people for how they deploy their...

Since he was sworn in four months ago after an airtight confirmation vote, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has continued to be at the center of controversy. We have seen Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app on an unsecure personal phone to discuss sensitive military operations, his firing of three senior aides, and a Pentagon chock-full of internal turmoil. ince he was sworn in four months ago after an airtight confirmation vote, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has continued to be at the center of controversy. We have seen Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app on an unsecure personal phone...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will cut its operational test and evaluation organization in half and appoint an interim director to better align the armed forces with an America First strategy. In a Wednesday memo, Mr. Hegseth explains that an internal review of the Pentagon’s Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation found that cuts to the division would improve the military’s “lethality, readiness and efficiency.” “A comprehensive internal review has identified redundant, nonessential, nonstatutory functions within ODOT&E that do not support operational agility or resource efficiency, affecting our ability to rapidly and effectively deploy...

WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met billionaire Elon Musk at the Pentagon on Wednesday, officials said, the second known time the close ally of President Donald Trump has visited the department's headquarters.In March, Musk, whose businesses have a number of Defense Department contracts, was granted an unprecedented top-level meeting at the Pentagon."The Secretary met with Elon Musk and other members of the X AI team this morning," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement."The Department of Defense is committed to engaging with AI industry CEOs to ensure our warfighters are equipped to face 21st...

MAGA supporters have erupted in fury over Saturday Night Live's latest political sketch featuring a deeply personal dig at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The controversial segment, which aired this weekend, featured former cast member Cecily Strong returning as Judge Jeanine Pirro alongside Colin Jost portraying Hegseth as her 'drinking buddy.' In the sketch, Strong repeatedly made light of alleged alcohol issues that the real-life Defense Secretary has vehemently denied. 'I love Pete Hegseth. He's my old drinking buddy,' Strong's Pirro said. When Jost then entered the scene as Hegseth, Pirro was so surprised that she sprayed wine all over his...

In the run-up to the vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., knew her party had a problem — and its name was John Fetterman. Fetterman, the Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, was open to confirming President Donald Trump’s embattled pick, according to two people familiar with his thinking. Murray wanted to speak with her colleague one-on-one. So she reached out to set up a time. But Fetterman refused, as the two people familiar with the episode told NBC News. “He figured that she wanted to yell at him about it,” one person familiar with the...

In what may be the most valuable gift ever extended to the United States from a foreign government, the Trump administration is preparing to accept a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet from the royal family of Qatar -- a gift that is to be available for use by President Donald Trump as the new Air Force One until shortly before he leaves office, at which time ownership of the plane will be transferred to the Trump presidential library foundation, sources familiar with the proposed arrangement told ABC News. The gift is expected to be announced next week, when Trump...

WASHINGTON — The drama surrounding Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon has a new lead player: a top aide known to his detractors as “Rasputin Ricky.” Ricky Buria, the defense secretary’s de facto chief of staff, is a rare Biden administration holdover and an internal critic of Vice President JD Vance’s “wackamamie crazy” and “isolationist” views — who has also slammed President Trump’s use of the military for immigration enforcement as “dumb.” Buria, 43, is also considered “incredibly intelligent and hardworking,” has fashioned himself as a China hawk and is seen by Hegseth as an effective administrator who keeps the office running smoothly...

A Massachusetts man on Thursday was charged with attempting to assassinate a member of President Donald Trump's Cabinet, after he brought Molotov cocktails to the Capitol in January. Ryan English, who turned himself into Capitol Police over the incident, allegedly admitted in January that he brought knives and two Molotov cocktails fashioned out of 50 milliliter Absolut Vodka bottles, which were stuffed with cloth doused in hand sanitizer, to Capitol Hill. The man is now charged with carrying a dangerous weapon or incendiary device on the grounds of the Capitol, and unlawful possession of an incendiary device, the department said....

There have been ethics complaints filed against Thom Tillis by non-partisan watchdogs and a Wall Street Journal report alleging HE WAS BEHIND THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST PETE HEGSETH, that was orchestrated by Tillis’ ex-sister-in-law. Tillis is a Lowlife POS. .... I looked into @SenThomTillis story. It’s pretty interesting , he came into government then became became a multimillionaire . Of course his wife runs a foundation. He also initially opposed the border wall. ... This arrogant creep is holding some dark secrets. And he's stupid enough to get himself trending on X ... The Hidden Empire of Thom Tillis: Undisclosed...

Benny Johnson @bennyjohnson This is the most powerful 17 second speech ever given by a Secretary of Defense. This is why do they want to destroy @PeteHegseth so badly. This is it… From Concerned Citizen 8:23 PM · May 6, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a sweeping purge of senior Pentagon leadership, demanding a 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals across all branches, according to a memo obtained by CNN. Hegseth’s memo frames the cuts as “critical” for “removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” As of February 2025, the U.S. military has 38 active-duty four-star officers across its branches: 11 in the Army, 3 in the Marine Corps, 8 in the Navy, 12 in the Air Force, 3 in the Space Force, and 1 in the Coast Guard.

The Pentagon Inspector General expanded his investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the double-encrypted app Signal. Steven Stebbins took over as Acting Inspector General after President Trump fired the previous IG and 17 other inspectors general. Stebbins was first appointed to his position in 2015. Pete Hegseth has been under heavy attack since before his confirmation hearing and the leaks keep coming.

Comedian Bill Maher recently bashed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, calling him the “worst thing to hit the Pentagon” since the September 11 terrorist attack. Maher delivered his hit against Hegseth during his “New Rule” segment on Friday night’s episode of his HBO show. “New Rule: Pete Hegsteth’s parents have to take away his phone. He can have it back when he’s shown us he’s grown up enough to use it responsibly,” Maher said. “I’m not saying Pete makes a terrible defense secretary, but he’s the worst thing to hit the Pentagon since Flight 77,” he added. Bill Maher’s joke...

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has formally terminated the service of every member sitting on the Department of Defense’s advisory committees. Based on the information available on the website as of Thursday, the now-defunct panels included several well-known Democrats and Bush-era Republicans. Janine Davidson (Chair) – Former Under Secretary of the Navy under Obama. A staunch Democrat and longtime proponent of Obama-era military reforms, now steering Pentagon policy advice. Michèle Flournoy – Held major Pentagon roles under Clinton and Obama; often discussed as a potential Secretary of Defense under Hillary Clinton or Biden. Colin Kahl – National Security Advisor to...

The O’Keefe Media Group on Wednesday released undercover video of a Defense Department Branch Chief attacking President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Nicolas Turza, a Department of Defense Branch Chief, called President Trump “illegitimate” and vowed to “resist him, everything he does.” Turza also attacked Hegseth and said the 44-year-old is “insanely young” and unfit to lead. “The same guy who tried to overthrow an election is just, like, truly setting us down a path of dictatorship. He’s illegitimate. He’s terribly immoral, breaking every norm. We’re going to resist him. Everything he does,” Turza said about Trump.

What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out! They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. NOT going to work with me, because we're changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn't matter.