Author Topic: ‘He lost us’: Generals, senior officers say trust in Hegseth has evaporated  (Read 177 times)

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Online Timber Rattler

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https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/oct/20/lost-us-generals-senior-officers-say-trust-hegseth-evaporated/

Quote
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has lost the trust and respect of some top military commanders, with his public “grandstanding” widely seen as unprofessional and the personnel moves made by the former cable TV host leading to an unprecedented and dangerous exodus of talent from the Pentagon, said current senior military officers and current and former Defense Department officials.

Numerous high-ranking officers painted Mr. Hegseth’s Sept. 30 speech to hundreds of generals and admirals gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia as a turning point in how his leadership style, attitude and overall competency are viewed in the upper echelons of the U.S. armed forces.

“It was a massive waste of time. … If he ever had us, he lost us,” one current Army general told The Washington Times.

The Quantico speech — described by other sources as “embarrassing” and theatrical to a degree that “is below our institution” — seemed to crystallize beliefs about Mr. Hegseth that had taken root among some senior officers, including the view that the secretary operates with a junior officer’s mentality that has led him to micromanage policies about issues such as military facial hair standards and press access to the Pentagon, sometimes at the expense of the much broader portfolio of a typical defense secretary.

“Mainly what I see from him are not serious things,” a current senior officer said. “It’s, ’Why did this service member tweet this?’ Or internal politics and drama. That’s mostly what I see.”

Mr. Hegseth clearly does not care about such criticism. At Quantico, he told any officer who disagreed with his priorities and his laserlike focus on a return to what he calls the military’s “warrior ethos” to resign.

EXCERPT

This is the sound of Hegseth brining a bunch of loose cannon prima donnas to heel and the breaking up of fiefdoms inside DoD.

These whispering flag officers seem oblivious to the fact that NOBODY outside their peer groups respect THEM, and that Hegseth seems to command the respect of the enlisted troops.  Totally tin-earred.
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Offline mountaineer

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This is the sound of Hegseth brining a bunch of loose cannon prima donnas to heel and the breaking up of fiefdoms inside DoD.
These whispering flag officers seem oblivious to the fact that NOBODY outside their peer groups respect THEM, and that Hegseth seems to command the respect of the enlisted troops.  Totally tin-earred.
Definitely the impression I've gotten. The pampered perfumed princes bedecked with stars, ribbons and medals are feeling a little threatened.

Offline Wingnut

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Armchair Generals.  We more Generals like Grant and less Miley's.
You don’t become cooler with age but you do care progressively less about being cool, which is the only true way to actually be cool.

Online catfish1957

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Our General ranks probably need to be gutted of pathogenic prima donnas
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

Offline IsailedawayfromFR

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Our General ranks probably need to be gutted of pathogenic prima donnas
:amen:
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Online rustynail

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Trust and Respect.  Can't give it?  Get out.

Offline Cyber Liberty

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These unnamed Generals need to man up and resign rather than throwing brickbats from behind reporters.
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Online catfish1957

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These unnamed Generals need to man up and resign rather than throwing brickbats from behind reporters.

For a line of work that exemplifies courage, bravery, and honor.......    Spitballing Generals hiding under the moniker of "unnamed", is everything but.
I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

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Army Captain Urges Military To Defy Trump’s Orders In Stunning Clip

Trending Politics News
October 21, 2025

An Army captain is under fire after posting videos in uniform urging troops to disobey orders from President Trump — a stunning act that critics say crosses the line into outright insubordination.

In a clip posted a few weeks ago, Captain Dylan Blaha told active-duty personnel to “ignore orders” coming from Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, blasting their directives as “authoritarian” and “fascist.” He invoked the Posse Comitatus Act in a shaky attempt to justify defying the commander-in-chief.

But Blaha’s rant has triggered outrage across the military community — and could land him in serious trouble. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), service members are strictly prohibited from engaging in political advocacy while in uniform, especially when it could be perceived as resisting lawful commands from superiors or the President himself.

https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/new-army-captain-urges-military-to-defy-trumps-orders-in-stunning-clip-jrupp/

He just ended his career. He has resigned without resigning. It is one thing if HE feels that way. It is a completely different thing for him to address the entire military in his capacity within the military to openly urge them to disobey any orders according to HIS particular opinion.
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