United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense (2025–)
| Born | 1980-06-06 · Minneapolis |
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| 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.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military had cut its generals and admirals by 20%, describing the move as accountability rather than a purge. He also announced plans for a drone-focused warfare command and a task force led by Elon Musk, Newt Gingrich and Palmer Luckey to examine future weapons and warfare.
DDW
Josh Paul, co-founder of A New Policy and a former director of congressional and public affairs at the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, analyses the latest development in the US-Iran War. Hegseth says US forces have crippled Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
TTRT World
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the United States had reduced its number of generals and admirals by 20 percent. He described the move as intended to promote “accountability.”
FFrance 24
Pete Hegseth said Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich will help the Pentagon with a warfare initiative.
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CNBC
The Defense Department has decided to stop appointing civilians to tenured faculty positions at U.S. military academies, Defense Secretary Hegseth says.
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ABC News
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Friday at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He linked the ongoing conflict in Iran to the 2001 attacks, accusing an “Islamic theocracy” of wishing America dead for decades, celebrating 9/11 and sponsoring attacks that killed thousands of Americans and US comrades.
FFrance 24
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Friday at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He shifted to the ongoing conflict in Iran and sought to link it to the 2001 attacks, saying Iran’s “Islamic theocracy” has wished the US dead for decades, cheered 9/11 and sponsored attacks against Americans.
FFrance 24 English
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Norah O’Donnell last month that the United States has “all the control in the world” over the outcome of the Iran war and touted “historic” devastation to Iran’s military capabilities. The interview also features a U.S. Air Force officer shot down in Iran in April who survived two days in the mountains before being rescued.
CCBS News
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says U.S. military action against Iran has not been ruled out. Fox News reports from Tel Aviv and discusses the effects and implications of new U.S. sanctions on Iran.
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Fox News
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States could still consider military strikes against Iran if tensions worsen, while stressing the effect of economic pressure.
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Reuters
Reports that mention this person, by story.
Pete Hegseth has survived an impeachment attempt, but his future is uncertain. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie accused him of waging an unauthorized war with Iran, while fellow Republicans blocked the move. At his first press conference in six months, Hegseth called the impeachment a “farce” and a “stunt”; Trump is standing by him for now.
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BBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-11-14 16:01
CNN’s Erin Burnett reviews the week’s major stories, including impeachment articles against Hegseth, a Democratic House seat flip in Colorado and Scott Colom’s surprise Senate win in Mississippi, making him the state’s first Black senator in more than 140 years. The program also covers the deepening Nvidia espionage scandal and Trump’s approval of Nvidia chip sales to China despite Jensen Huang’s warning.
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CNNOriginal★★★☆☆2026-11-14 14:00
The day after an Army Sentinel publicly reprimanded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s group on Veterans Day, Hegseth gave the soldier the Joint Service Commendation.
AABC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-13 02:45
BBC correspondent Bernd Debusmann explains why Defence Secretary Hegseth’s group was reprimanded at Arlington National Cemetery and the history behind the cemetery’s strict rules of conduct.
BBBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-12 23:42
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented a medal on Thursday to a US Army sentinel who appeared to admonish him and his aides outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day for not following proper decorum.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-12 22:25
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday gave a commendation to the Army sentinel who had rebuked him and his guests over their behavior at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day.
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NBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-12 20:15
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth awarded Specialist Thomas Iglesias the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Iglesias had reprimanded Hegseth and his group after they were heard talking and laughing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, telling visitors to maintain silence and respect.
DDWOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-12 19:07
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a top award to a service member who had scolded him and his staff at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
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The Associated PressOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-12 19:00
A soldier who admonished Hegseth’s group after a photo at the Tomb of the Unknowns has received a medal.
AABC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-11-12 18:40
After a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a service member reprimanded Hegseth and his staff at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The next day, the U.S. War Secretary presented that person with a top award.
CCBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-11-12 18:14