Hegseth denies opposing the repeal of "don’t ask, don’t tell," following new CNN reporting
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, denied opposing the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” after new CNN reporting from KFile found that he has said LGBTQ people serving openly in the military reflects a Marxist agenda.
On Thursday, Hegseth appeared to walk back his earlier remarks about DADT, telling CNN, “Oppose the repeal? No, I don’t,” and calling reports on his previous comments, “more false reporting.”
In his 2024 book “The War on Warriors” and in subsequent media promotions this year, Hegseth described both the original “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy and its repeal in 2011 as a “gateway” and a “camouflage” for broader cultural changes that he claims have undermined military cohesion and effectiveness.
In a 2015 appearance on Fox News, Hegseth also argued these policies like repealing DADT “erode standards” in favor of political goals like social engineering.
Meetings on the Hill: Hegseth is meeting with more lawmakers today in his bid to garner enough support for confirmation in the Senate.
Asked how he plans to approach his first official meeting with a Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, this afternoon, Hegseth said, “I’m the same person in all the meetings.”
“There’s nothing political about the DoD. We want to make sure politics is not a part of it. So meeting with Democrats, just like meeting with Republicans, is a huge part of our approach,” he said.
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