United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense (2025–)
| Born | 1980-06-06 · Minneapolis |
|---|---|
| Party | Republican |
| Offices |
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| Education | Princeton University (BA) Harvard University (MPP) |
| Military service | United States Army, Army National Guard · 2003–20062010–20142019–2021 · Major · 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, Minnesota Army National Guard, District of Columbia Army National Guard · Iraq War, War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge |
Portrait: U.S. Department of Defense · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
What this person said on the record, as reported, newest first.
Bloomberg Television’s Balance of Power discusses the latest developments on Capitol Hill, including Hegseth’s view that Massie’s bid hurts troops and leadership questions facing both parties after the midterms.
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Bloomberg Television
After a Republican congressman launched an effort to impeach him, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended his record. BBC correspondent Gary O’Donoghue breaks down his response.
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BBC News
Hegseth said the effort to impeach him over the Iran war was “not patriotism” but “sabotage.”
TTRT World
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who faces possible impeachment by Congress, urged troops in a social media video to “ignore the noise.” He said the Trump administration was more determined than ever to finish what it had started.
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CNN
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged an impeachment threat in a social media video released Thursday. He said it would amount to “the politics of personal destruction” and insisted it would not work against him.
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The Associated Press
VOA’s daily news roundup says War Secretary Hegseth proposed a US-ASEAN defense cooperation framework. It also reports that the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire had held for 30 hours without violations, Israel’s election count remained close, and the US Air Force’s ARRW hypersonic missile entered mass production.
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VOA Chinese
At annual defense talks in the Philippines, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged continued cooperation with Southeast Asian nations and said the United States would defend its own interests and those of its allies in the Pacific.
TThe Associated Press
Hegseth accused Tehran of building a large conventional missile arsenal to deter military action while pursuing what he called “nuclear ambitions.”
TTRT World
The Pentagon says the Army will livestream the upcoming firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who backed the decision, called the broadcast a “no-brainer” in an interview.
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Global News
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military will livestream an execution for the first time, making it viewable worldwide. The person due to die by firing squad was the shooter in the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood.
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NBC News
Reports that mention this person, by story.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds an honor cordon for UK counterpart Wes Streeting and meets with him in Washington, D.C.
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ReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-10-15 17:23
President Donald Trump rejected a plan to livestream the execution of a former Army major who killed 13 people in 2009, overturning Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s proposal after strong bipartisan opposition.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-10-15 16:45
Protesters disrupted a panel on drones featuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and senior military officials at the US Army’s annual conference in Washington on Wednesday. They denounced the war in Iran and voiced concerns about Gaza.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-10-14 19:25
Anti-war protesters repeatedly heckled Pete Hegseth as he spoke at the Association of the US Army’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Exposition. Security personnel removed one protester.
TTRT WorldOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-10-14 16:00
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is hosting a panel on the future of autonomous warfare with acting Army Secretary Adam Telle, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Assistant Secretary of War Derrick Anderson.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-10-14 14:06
War Secretary Pete Hegseth joins senior Army, Navy and Air Force leaders at the Association of the United States Army in Washington, D.C., to discuss autonomous warfare, artificial intelligence and the future of US military dominance.
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Fox NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-10-14 12:28
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis told Meet the Press that he regrets voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.
NNBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-10-11 13:56
The Pentagon’s plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter has drawn criticism from both parties. Trump says he understands the decision, while the vice president says he will not watch.
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ABC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-10-10 15:01
Three sources familiar with the matter told CNN that Hegseth’s announcement to a far-right podcaster Wednesday that a firing-squad execution was being considered for the convicted Fort Hood mass shooter was the first time many in the Army and Pentagon had heard the idea made public.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-10-10 12:00
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the Fort Hood mass shooter’s death by firing squad will be livestreamed. The announcement quickly drew bipartisan outrage and questions about how the public execution will be carried out.
CCNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-10-10 05:01