Pete Hegseth’s public persona rests on a shaky foundation of bluster, hypocrisy, and opportunism. For years, he has paraded himself as a defender of “patriotism” and “warrior ethos,” while his actual record betrays a man far more invested in television ratings than in authentic service to his country. His scandals around misuse of funds during his time at Concerned Veterans for America revealed a willingness to put self-interest above principle, further exposing the hollow core of his supposed commitment to veterans. Corruption, rather than integrity, has become the hallmark of his career.

Even more troubling is the ideological bent he has pushed under the guise of mainstream commentary. Hegseth has given cover to strains of white nationalism by normalizing exclusionary rhetoric and demonizing multiculturalism. He couches his arguments in the language of tradition and values, but the underlying message is one of division, resentment, and fear. It is not the conduct of a leader who seeks to elevate, but of a propagandist willing to deepen fractures in American society for political and personal gain.

What makes his posturing particularly galling is the disparity between his limited military experience and the authority he claims over professional soldiers. While he did serve, his time was modest, and yet he routinely positions himself as the arbiter of what it means to be a “true warrior.” This is especially offensive to career service members who have spent decades in uniform, honing their craft and making sacrifices he can scarcely comprehend. For a talk-show host to lecture decorated soldiers about grit and honor reeks of arrogance and condescension.

Ultimately, Pete Hegseth embodies the very antithesis of the values he claims to champion. He decries corruption while indulging in it, condemns weakness while displaying it, and glorifies service while trivializing the sacrifices of real professionals. His platform has become a stage for hypocrisy and self-promotion rather than genuine leadership. To hold up such a figure as a moral authority on patriotism or military ethos is not only absurd but insulting to the men and women who have truly lived those ideals without the aid of television cameras and lucrative book deals.