Summary

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, has sparked controversy over his extremist rhetoric, detailed in his 2020 book American Crusade.

Hegseth advocates for a “holy war” against leftist “enemies” and envisions a potential civil war if Democrats prevail politically, stating the military and police would need to choose sides.

He openly dismisses democracy, endorses gerrymandering, and promotes nationalist, anti-globalist ideologies.

Critics warn of his loyalty to Trump and his potential support for militarized actions against domestic opposition, raising alarms about his suitability to oversee the Pentagon.

  • snooggums
    link
    English
    11116 hours ago

    In fiction, evil plans in secret.

    In reality, evil plans right out in the open and people cheer for them.

    • FenrirIII
      link
      109 hours ago

      Evil has their own propaganda station

      • snooggums
        link
        English
        79 hours ago

        Multiple propaganda stations.

  • @Freefall
    link
    49 hours ago

    The US Military swears an oath to the constitution, not the president, or the bible…so…GLHF!

    • @Dkarma
      link
      119 hours ago

      Oh sweet summer child…all elected members of Congress do too …

    • GHiLA
      link
      fedilink
      6
      edit-2
      8 hours ago

      these highly trained individuals, from various backgrounds around the world are all held honorably to a code of ethics and justice.

      This is gonna be one of those believe it when I see the results kinda situations, fellas. I just ain’t buying the ROTC combat boots kids in highschool being particularly tolerant.

  • teft
    link
    4015 hours ago

    Does he think the military is a monolith? There are plenty of people on both sides of the political spectrum. If anything the military will fracture in a civil war.

    • @njm1314
      link
      68 hours ago

      Time and time again the US military has been perfectly fine turning its weapons on Americans. I don’t think we should have any faith in US military personnel standing up.

    • @disguy_ovahea
      link
      2814 hours ago

      Not if the civil war begins after the Project 2025 personnel purge

      • teft
        link
        4014 hours ago

        Maybe, but from my experience in the army they’d have to purge more than half the force. And then you have lots and lots soldiers unaligned to your views with nothing to do. Rebel armies have been constructed with less.

        Just saying.

        • @disguy_ovahea
          link
          1914 hours ago

          They’re planning to use Schedule F to fire hired government employees and replace them with loyalists, regardless of their experience or qualifications. This wouldn’t apply to troops, but it would apply to the DOD.

          Soldiers would be given orders by the loyalists. I’m assuming they’d be dishonorably discharged for insubordination if they refused to follow orders, but you’d know better than me.

          • @snowboardbum
            link
            2014 hours ago

            The military has spent a good decade now training soldiers to know what an illegal order is and that they best ignore it.

            • @Mirshe
              link
              1011 hours ago

              Or else what, now? The threat of military and civilian justice doesn’t work well in a system that will almost certainly be rigged to ignore anything illegal that a soldier does in the commission of Trump’s orders. The entire indoctrination there relies heavily on the threat of military and DOJ proceedings, and once both of those are pretty well captured, there’s really not much. We have a law that says the ICC can’t prosecute American soldiers for war crimes - in fact, attempting to do so is considered an act of war.

              I don’t disagree that a lot of the military won’t follow orders at first, but I think when some of them start realizing that their fellow soldiers are getting away with things that would normally be considered criminal, you’ll see them starting to turn around on it. Corruption is a cancer and in this case, it’s poised to be incredibly aggressive.

  • @recapitated
    link
    1915 hours ago

    Obviously the military will take a side.

    But, this isn’t the 1800s.

    We will be pounced upon, infiltrated, and ultimately subjugated by what will formerly have been near-peers.

    • @Carmakazi
      link
      1213 hours ago

      Our adversaries would have a difficult time invading even a fractured US, nobody really has the naval forces to pull it off besides us. If they did try, it would be with the help of a former American faction that would be foolish enough to believe the leopard wouldn’t eat them.

      I think they would be more interested in taking the opening to settle their regional aspirations. Taiwan, SE Asia, the Balkans and Eastern Europe…

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        2513 hours ago

        No need to invade when you can just pay for a few shitposts and watch the USA destroy itself.

      • @recapitated
        link
        11
        edit-2
        12 hours ago

        I don’t think a military invasion is really necessary. An infiltration of our power structures is going to be the way to achieve their own national objectives. And, I hope I’m being dramatic, but I think Trump is paving the way for it.

  • @Rapidcreek
    link
    614 hours ago

    Should be an interesting conformation hearing. Chaired by Mitch McConnell, BTW.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      410 hours ago

      Should be an interesting a depressing AF confoirmation hearing. Chaired by Mitch McConnell, BTW.

      FTFY

      • @Rapidcreek
        link
        110 hours ago

        It could go either way. McConnell is not a maga and in his last term. He may not give a fuck about Trump. We’ll see

        • @Nastybutler
          link
          39 hours ago

          He’s also stepping down as Majority Leader, so, who knows what the next guy will do

          • @Rapidcreek
            link
            09 hours ago

            Thune was Mitch’s Whip so I expect them to work hand in hand.