Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Defense

Trump's Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth Dismisses CNN Report on Gay Military Service

Dec 13, 2024, 12:30 AM

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, has publicly dismissed a CNN report regarding his past comments on the inclusion of gay individuals in the U.S. military. The report highlighted Hegseth's criticism of policies allowing gay people to serve openly, which he described as part of a 'Marxist' agenda in his 2024 book 'The War on Warriors'. When confronted by a reporter about the report after a meeting with Senator Rand Paul, Hegseth stated, 'I don’t feel the need to respond to CNN,' and reiterated his stance when pressed further, showcasing his firm stance against engaging with media outlets he perceives as biased.