A social media response from Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, explains precisely why the media is pushing back so hard on his pending appointment.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) posted on X about being informed by the father of a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet about the terms “birthing parent” and “non-birthing parent” being used in place of “mother” and “father,” asking followers for their thoughts.
Repost if you find it offensive when the terms “birthing parent” and “non-birthing parent” are used in place of “mother” and “father” https://t.co/5uSkthG74l
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) November 17, 2024
Well, a confident Hegseth, who was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay while in the Army National Guard, earning two Bronze Stars, offered a curt 3-word response on his thoughts, “Not for long.”
Not for long. https://t.co/v8teGiv3eH
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 16, 2024
Just days before Trump named the Fox News contributor as his pick to head up the Pentagon, Hegseth appeared on the Shawn Ryan Podcast and spoke about wokeness in the military.
“You gotta get rid of DEI and CRT [critical race theory] out of military academies,” Hegseth said. “You’re not training young officers to be baptized in this type of thinking.”
“The dumbest phrase on planet Earth in the military is ‘our diversity is our strength,’” Hegseth insisted, adding that “any general that was involved – general, admiral, whatever – in any of the DEI woke sh*t has got to go.”
“Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it, that’s the only litmus test we care about,” said the man who would be tapped just a few days later for a position that would allow him to put his words into action.
Sen. Lee was pumped to see Hegseth’s response to his post, as seen here:
Let’s freaking go!
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) November 16, 2024
Here’s a quick sampling of other responses to the story, as seen on Elon Musk’s free speech platform, beginning with Musk himself:
I love that all Trump’s current cabinet choices are active on X!
— Bill Ellmore (@BillEllmore) November 16, 2024
“Non-birthing parent” – who comes up with this nonsense? Why do they feel the need to come up with this nonsense? Why would the Academy use this nonsense unless forced? I have so many questions.
— JB (@SimmonsBart) November 16, 2024
America is so back!
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) November 16, 2024
Wokeness and Warriors do not mix
— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) November 16, 2024
Mother.
Father.
It could all be so simple. pic.twitter.com/HAaZXfBwf6
— Apple Lamps (@lamps_apple) November 16, 2024
We The People have spoken. We’ve had enough. Here’s our Mandate for change. Get to work, please… pic.twitter.com/MQmHyxBFWq
— joe miller (@joemill37087868) November 16, 2024
My husband has been in the Army for 15 years. Last week, he had to take a two-hour mandatory class on the proper use of pronouns.
A few years ago, he had to TEACH a class on the proper way to go about changing genders so that it’s recognized in the military. He wants to get out… https://t.co/4lHJLkp08W
— Kristy (@FlaGirlKristy) November 16, 2024
