Hegseth Uses D-Day as an Excuse for PT on His B-Day
Before the official commemorations honoring the day Allied forces stormed Nazi-occupied beaches, the defense secretary opted for a personal training (PT) session with service members on Omaha Beach.
Hegseth, who turned 45 on Friday, posted a video on X showing himself leading a workout drill alongside multiple military personnel where they carried one of their own on a stretcher.
'I had the privilege of doing PT at Omaha Beach, where so many made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,' Hegseth wrote. 'We will never forget D-DAY.'
Unlike frequent uniformed cosplay enthusiast Kristi Noem, Hegseth does actually have some military experience to justify his workout. He served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard with active-duty deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whether that résumé alone was enough to justify his elevation to head of the Pentagon remains a hot debate. His confirmation hearing drew sharp criticism over his qualifications, not to mention a trail of damning allegations about his drinking and personal conduct.
Friday's D-Day events marked the sacrifices of the thousands who died during the massive 1944 Allied assault on France's coast. The all out attack featuring the largest-ever armada of troops, troops, and planes played a pivotal role in turning the tide against the Nazis and liberating Europe in World War II.
After his PT session, Hegseth delivered a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. Hegseth paid his respects to those who died 81 years ago, as well as proclaim that the world is a 'better place when Europe and America are strong, free and independent.'
'Our nations together have endured a bond, intertwined by history, and we share this hallowed ground beneath our feet, dedicated and consecrated by the blood of our heroes,' Hegseth said.
'It is truly one of the honors of a lifetime to commemorate the sacrifices of D-Day and celebrate the freedoms of our two nations,' he added. 'God bless you all, and may God bless our warriors.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Pentagon joins ‘great jeans' discourse with Hegseth photo
The Pentagon has waded into the discourse around an American Eagle ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney that has recently sparked controversy. '@secdef has great jeans,' the Pentagon said in a Monday post on the social platform X, featuring a photo of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wearing jeans. The ad campaign featuring Sweeney has resulted in backlash over what some have deemed racist undertones. A majority of the criticism has surrounded the campaign's title: 'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans,' riffing on 'good genes.' 'Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color,' Sweeney said in one video from the campaign while showing off the brand's jeans. 'My jeans are blue.' On Monday, President Trump weighed in on the Sweeney ad campaign, saying that being 'woke is for losers.' 'Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the 'HOTTEST' ad out there. It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are 'flying off the shelves.' Go get 'em Sydney!' Trump said on his Truth Social platform. A day before, Trump said, 'If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
'Hamas starving hostages as Nazis starved Jews': Netanyahu responds to Hamas, PIJ hostage videos
"I understand exactly what Hamas wants, they don't want a deal, they want to break us through these horrific videos," he said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Sunday night address that the hostage videos released over the weekend made him realize exactly what Hamas wants. "They don't want a deal; they want to break us through these horrific videos, through the false horror propaganda it spreads around the world. But we will not break," he continued. "I am filled with even stronger determination to free our kidnapped sons, to eliminate Hamas, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to the State of Israel." "You see them languishing in a dungeon, but the Hamas monsters surrounding them have thick, fleshy arms. They have everything they need to eat. They are starving them, just as the Nazis starved the Jews." Addressing the citizens of Israel, he said, "Like you, I was shocked yesterday. I saw the horror videos of our dear hostages, Rom and Evyatar. I called their families, embraced them on my behalf and on behalf of my wife, and also on your behalf. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a response to Netanyahu's statement, saying that, "he has been leading Israel and the hostages to doom. "Talks about a deal to release the hostages have been heard again and again, but it's all a deception. For 22 months now, the public has been sold the illusion that military pressure and intense fighting will return the hostages. "The truth must be told: expanding the war endangers the lives of the hostages, who are already in immediate danger of death. We have seen the chilling images of the hostages in the tunnels; they will not survive these long days of hell. "We eliminated all the leaders of Hamas, we won in Lebanon and Iran. There is no greater victory than that," the forum continued. Status of Rom and Evyatar Hamas published a video of hostage Evyatar David on Friday evening, which was later cleared for publication by the David Family. Clips of a clearly emaciated David are interspliced with those of starving Palestinian children. The clip of hostage Rom Braslavski is seen lying on a mattress, saying he has pain in his foot and has difficulty standing, and is suffering from severe hunger, in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad video originally published on Thursday. Danielle Greyman-Kennard contributed to this report.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pentagon keeps a lid on Golden Dome
A sprawling missile defense conference kicks off Tuesday in Alabama, but no one on stage can mention the Pentagon's most ambitious missile defense project. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office, according to the event's organizers, has banned officials at the event from talking about President Donald Trump's favorite weapon system: the nascent multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile shield. The clampdown follows new Pentagon rules that ban personnel from participating in think tank and research organization events — a major channel for communicating policy and gathering outside input. And it occurs alongside a broader tightening of the department's public engagement, including reducing press conferences and limiting media access in the building to prevent a stream of embarrassing leaks. The Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville this week typically showcases the Pentagon's missile defense priorities. Organizers expect it will draw 7,300 attendees and 300 exhibitors this year, with Missile Defense Agency Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins among the headliners. But Hegseth's public affairs office told organizers to keep Golden Dome off the agenda and muzzled government speakers — at least until a separate event on Thursday, according to event spokesperson Bob English. 'A lot of [attendees] are coming this year because of Golden Dome,' English said. 'Unfortunately, last week, [the Defense secretary's office] came out and said they don't want us talking about Golden Dome during the symposium.' The Pentagon, when asked for comment, pointed to a July announcement about the creation of an office to oversee the missile shield's development. Officials provided no additional information. Organizers described frantic days assessing the new rules' implications. 'There was confusion for about 48 hours about exactly what the policy was or what they intended us to do or not to do,' English said. Officials will still have some conversations about Golden Dome, but in a more structured setting. The Missile Defense Agency posted a notice this week that it will brief industry in an unclassified session Thursday, laying out what threats the shield is meant to stop, what mix of defenses it may use and how the Pentagon wants to buy and build it. But experts contend the conversation belongs in public. 'When it comes to Golden Dome, start talking,' said Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 'There are good answers to these questions because the threat is profound. But there needs to be a lot more communication and persuasion.' The fledgling initiative, launched by Trump soon after he returned to office, received $25 billion in the recently signed GOP megabill. Proponents envision a $175 billion program. The Senate confirmed Gen. Mike Guetlein in July to lead the new Golden Dome office, which aims to unveil the system's architecture by mid-September and conduct the first integrated flight test in late 2028. Solve the daily Crossword
