this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
493 points (98.6% liked)

politics

25920 readers
2881 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Archive article: https://archive.is/EfZkV “We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans,” he said. “No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression,” he added. “We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards.”

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] pr0phet@lemmy.dbzer0.com 159 points 4 days ago (5 children)

He is such an idiot. Oh yes, let’s lecture career officers about what a real fighter looks like. It’s all just optics. Idiot.

[–] skulblaka@sh.itjust.works 88 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Bad optics, at that. Hegseth just created the single largest opsec failure that the US has seen in over a century and used it to complain to career military generals that they look too woke.

If literally any other man tried this at any other time in American history he'd be in front of a court martial so fast your head would spin.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 34 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Meanwhile, the supporting act, Mr Droopeye...

[–] Blackfeathr@lemmy.world 27 points 4 days ago (2 children)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 28 points 4 days ago (1 children)

He used to work for Fox News, of course he has a skewed view on the importance of optics.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 142 points 4 days ago (6 children)

Hegseth complained that as leader of this department he is constantly surrounded by unattractive, hairy, bear types. He wants to see nice smooth skin that is easy on the eyes and the military will require a more metrosexual look! He also wants to see more exercise and he needs hard bodies out there. The harder. The better.

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 88 points 4 days ago (4 children)

Unleash the tactical twinks!

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] popcap200@lemmy.ml 44 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Jesus. It's like if Mac from Always Sunny was the defence secretary.

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (4 replies)
[–] omgboom@lemmy.dbzer0.com 105 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Pete Hegesth can't grow a beard

[–] AbidanYre@lemmy.world 25 points 4 days ago

It's the only logical conclusion.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] fireweed@lemmy.world 64 points 4 days ago (2 children)

His comment about beards is iterally the least problematic/newsworthy part of his speech. Why the fuck would you focus on this and not, I don't know, his straight outta 1984 "war is peace" statement? Extreme journalistic malpractice.

[–] 4am@lemmy.zip 21 points 4 days ago (3 children)

An outsized portion of African American soldiers get beard waivers because if they shave they suffer from “razor bumps” (Pseudofolliculitis Barbae); which is not just razor burn that goes away but a painful skin condition with unsightly pustules.

Basically Pete’s trying to be like “oh, can’t be professional if you’re black, sorry you don’t meet our stringent requirements”

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

I agree they literally declared war on American citizens

[–] CascadiaRo@lemmy.zip 77 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

Hegseth’s speech was met with a relatively muted response from the military brass. 

Trump took the stage after him, noting that: “I’ve never walked into a room so silent before.”

Probably because this meeting ~~should~~ could have been an email.

[–] Laser@feddit.org 55 points 4 days ago

It should have been no email. Nothing about this was necessary.

I'd feel so fucking stupid as a general being lectured by this dropout and a draft dodging president about how they won no war "because of woke". Absolute disgrace but to be expected for that admin.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] baronvonj@lemmy.world 76 points 4 days ago (5 children)

Wait .. a white supremacist who rejects Viking Age cultural appropriation‽

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 31 points 4 days ago

I mean. so he says. beards are required with all kinds of religions.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] NutWrench@lemmy.ml 57 points 4 days ago (1 children)

What did Hegseth think was going to happen? That all the generals were going to stomp their feet and hoot and holler? That they were going to pump their fists in the air and shout "YEEEAAAH!" ?

That sh*t might work on Private Pyle but those Generals had more important things to do and places to be. They're pissed that they've been summoned from all over the world by a guy who calls their troops "suckers and losers" to take part in a pep rally.

[–] JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 37 points 4 days ago

This is what CEOs of failing companies do to make themselves seem important on their sinking ship.

[–] forrcaho@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago (3 children)

I'm convinced that the real purpose of this meeting was to gauge the willingness of top military officers to support a coup. I would be surprised if their private conversations in response to this spectacle were not spied on.

Fortunately, at least in public appearance, they don't seem thrilled with this administration.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] athairmor@lemmy.world 51 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I feel like the chance of a military coup in the USA just went up 1000%. I’m sure there’s plenty of MAGAs in that military but there’s gotta be a lot who take their oath and tradition very seriously.

[–] Montagge@lemmy.zip 21 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If they did they would already be doing something. There's a line in that oath about protecting from domestic threats.

[–] Trevita17@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago

If they are doing something (and I'm confident that someone is. Likely quite a few of them), then we won't know until they put the plan into action. That information leaking right now would be disastrous.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] xenomor@lemmy.world 60 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (9 children)

So, I thought this was going to be some secret strategy briefing heralding some awful new global project. Instead it’s a couple little boys peacocking around bragging about how masculine they are to a captive audience.

I wonder how the generals and admirals feel about being pons in this loser’s bruised ego theater?

The least cool thing a person can do is brag about how cool they are. Same thing applies to masculinity. When you preform like this, you’re expressing how weak, afraid, unsure and incapable you are. That’s the maga cultural movement in a nutshell.

Fuck every single person in civilization leadership at this moment.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 29 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Were you trying to say "pawns?"

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (8 replies)
[–] BenLeMan@lemmy.world 29 points 4 days ago (1 children)

No beards on generals? Must be the cope from having this handsome gentleman beat their asses all the way to Dixie and back! U.S. Grant

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

**They declared war on America.

Encouraged war crimes (against American citizens)**

Enacted a bunch of racist and sexist shit (beard thing)

Announced they were planning on starting wars as soon as they feel like it

Rejected and alienated large portions of the American population from serving on the brink of WW3

Dementia Don rambled incoherently for a long time

Threatened the generals if they didn’t show fealty to the pedo king

Said the generals aren’t sexy enough for Pete

[–] DoGeeseSeeGod@lemmy.blahaj.zone 29 points 4 days ago (2 children)

"Military leaders will need to pass height and weight tests each year."

Each year? Height tests? How many ppl losing height year to year?

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 11 points 3 days ago

What he did is he proved to everyone he didn't know a thing about the military.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Trump took the stage after him, noting that: “I’ve never walked into a room so silent before.”

The president, who famously avoided the military draft multiple time, then gave a far more subdued address, talking about everything from Joe Biden’s autopen, his love of the word “tariffs”, and the threat of nuclear weapons. 

“I call it the N word. There are two N words and you can’t use either of them,” Trump said to an awkwardly silent audience.

[–] ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 19 points 4 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

“I call it the N word. There are two N words and you cant use either of them” Trump said to an awkwardly silent audience

This timeline has truly jumped the shark. Like on the one hand we are so fucked, but on the other hand reality has become something straight off the cutting room floor of a mockumentary series

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 39 points 4 days ago (19 children)

Yes, he insulted very high ranking officers.

Yes, it will piss them off.

But most unfortunately, some of them are going to resign "in protest" and be replaced by bootlickers who do whatever trump says.

That is the goal, it's not to get them on Trump's side, it's a desperate attempt to get the ones willing to fight to quit before they can really fight in a meaningful way

load more comments (19 replies)
[–] halloween_spookster@lemmy.world 27 points 4 days ago

I don't think pissing off the entire military leadership with something that didn't need to be said (or could have been an email) is going to make them particularly keen to support you...

[–] jason_is_back@tucson.social 29 points 4 days ago

If this is the case then it is to drive out black people. Most black people get no shave chits due ingrown hairs. Unless you are on the front lines, who gives a fuck. Fuck President kid fucker and his drunk lap dog.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 30 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (4 children)

It's like a Nazi Ted Talk.

Thanks melania for making them look like Nazi foot soldiers too:

[–] kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 26 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Not a single beard in the crowd... might Hegseth be a ridiculous pedantic asshat? Some people are saying it.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (3 replies)
[–] Bonifratz@sh.itjust.works 26 points 4 days ago (1 children)

How are fascists always so cringe

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 19 points 4 days ago (6 children)

Ugh im up to the part where trump comes on. He is so delusional. Thinks everyone agrees with him. He is going on and on on gulf of america and talks like anyone but him uses it. Talks about how he built the us military and then it went to shamble for 4 years and magically is the best again. The magic of pure, unadulterated bullshit. He called putin easy so that was funny. Now he is telling them how they don't have to worry about him ever any wars he starts. Course that is typical for republicans. Our submarines are undetectable but the enemy ones are totally detectable. Oh and our submarines go above and below the water (presumably he is saying others don't do that?). He said at one point he was with the fire department. Oh and people are shooting at firemen on their ladders apparently. Also its animals shooting at them. Seriously find this on youtube and fastforward to trumps stuff. Jeez he is talking about how he calls biden the autopen and then is talking like he never uses it. Oh and hes proud of his pubic hair signature. Then he throws in that he had hunter sign stuff. This clown drives me nuts. He literally just did an indian accent explaining how he stopped india and pakistan from fighting. This talk is like a great example of trump talking. Oh he got rowanda war done. He has stopped 8 and the nobel prize will go to a writer talking about his great deeds but he does not want it but he should get it.....and on and on. Oh and ukraine/russia is easy. So easy he has not done it yet because he knows he can do it whenever because so easy. The furthest he ever saw two people in front of him was inside the oval office apparently. Can't be further. nope. nope. can't be done. These generals im pretty sure have been seated there for over two hours with no break that I can tell. Oh good news trumps says his tariffs have taken in so much money the us is rich again. He thinks we should have more battleships because he saw them in pictures and they look cool. now spouting 51st state bullshit. hes saying they want to be us because of our great tariffs. Now he is saying the us does not build ships only submarines. this man is our president people. sorry for this but you know it needed one of those threads like the state of the union.

load more comments (6 replies)
[–] ReallyActuallyFrankenstein@lemmynsfw.com 28 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Well, at least hopefully this is the moment some of those generals decide they will uphold the Constitution rather than back Trump's inevitable formal military coup in 6/12/24/36 months.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 14 points 3 days ago

He literally gave an example of a good reason to have a beard (special forces). This shit is racism. Full stop. Everyone I knew in the military who had a shaving chit was a dark green Marine.

It's so thinly veiled that it's raising my blood pressure. Those guys (with the shaving chits) were damn fine Marines. Fuck this administration!

[–] Hadriscus@jlai.lu 6 points 3 days ago

This is the most fascist speech in a while, and there's competition

[–] DicJacobus@lemmy.world 6 points 3 days ago

hundreds of senior officers most of which are probably keenly aware that America will possibly be at war with China in the next 5 years, and with Russia uncomfortably sooner. And this cokehead carted them all to Virginia basically just to do hyper conservative virtue signaling like it was an election campaign.

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 18 points 4 days ago

I am glad that the Trump Regime is so horrible at instilling loyalty within the old guard...though I could do without the secondhand embarrassment.

[–] merdaverse@lemmy.zip 24 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Pete "Warrior Ethos" Hegseth:

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

This guy reminds me of every dick-less wonder that issues "return to office" orders just so they can walk around and micromanage people.

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 21 points 4 days ago

An important reminder that a large part of fascism is pure idiocy.

[–] Geodad@lemmy.world 13 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Is he ranting because he doesn't have enough testosterone to grow one? 🤷‍♂️

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›