Critics have expressed alarm over Pete Hegseth, the US Defence Secretary, after he boasted of 'death and destruction from the sky all day long' during a Pentagon briefing, as the Trump administration escalates its military campaign in Iran. The former Fox News host, described as brash and bellicose, has transformed the Pentagon into a staging ground for an ideological crusade, according to detractors.
Hegseth, 45, who was narrowly confirmed by the Senate with Vice-President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote, has a controversial history. He served in the US Army National Guard, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, but faced allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety, and personal misconduct. His mother once emailed him accusing him of being an 'abuser of women'.
In his role, Hegseth has vowed to 'unleash overwhelming and punishing violence' and dispense with 'stupid rules of engagement' designed to protect civilians. Janessa Goldbeck, of the Vet Voice Foundation, called him 'a very dangerous person' and 'a white Christian nationalist' with the US arsenal at his disposal. Critics warn that his puerile displays are aimed at satisfying President Trump's desire for a warmonger.
