Pentagon slams fake memo claiming to be from Pete Hegseth after it goes viral
A viral image purporting to be a memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forbidding servicemembers from wearing their uniforms in social media posts has been debunked by the Pentagon.
The false memo bears the Department of Defense 's insignia but claims to come from the 'Office of Military Standards and Ethics,' which does not exist, as Pentagon spokesperson for personnel and readiness Jade Fulce pointed out to Stars and Stripes.
The false order lectures military personnel about the 'unauthorized use' of their uniforms in online posts.
It warns that 'all service members are prohibited from posting content in uniform for personal branding, monetization, entertainment or social media growth without explicit written approval from their unit's Public Affairs Office.
'Using it to build a following, chase internet clout, or promote personal narratives is a direct insult to the profession of arms and the Americans who trust us to defend them.'
The official guidance on the matter is straightforward: anyone wearing a military uniform to identify themselves as a service member, directly or indirectly, must remember that they are considered a representative of the U.S. Armed Forces and should conduct themselves accordingly.
The Vanguard Wall Podcast reportedly responded to the fake memo by using artificial intelligence to create a video satirizing the confusion it spawned, in which a fictional service member complains: 'How am I supposed to monetize myself now? I just bought an Audi – the uniform is the brand!'
The timing of the memo is also a giveaway, given that Hegseth is currently preoccupied by the tensions between Israel and Iran, having overseen the U.S. bombing raid on Tehran's nuclear sites on Saturday, so is unlikely to have time to turn his attention towards such a minor detail of protocol.
Influencer and Marine veteran Kayla Haas wrote on X that although she identified the memo as fake, she wished it were real.
'The Office of Military Standards and Ethics doesn't exist. The formatting is off. No directive number, no signature, no trace on official channels. That said? I agree with the spirit of it. And I wish a version was real,' Haas posted.
These topics (with the exception of monetization, in my opinion) are gray at best and hard to enforce. How do you define 'personal branding'? Is it a promotion ceremony photo? A fitness page? A deployment video?'
'Some service members use social media well to educate, inspire, and uphold the best of the military. Others chase clout, rake in money, and damage trust in the institution. We need clearer lines. Not censorship, but well-defined standards.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Fascinating reason why America's bluest city could elect a REPUBLICAN mayor
Republicans have a shock chance to win the New York City mayoral election for the first time in 20 years as Democratic rivals turn on each other. Controversial vigilante group leader Curtis Silwa will take on Zohran Mamdani in the November 4 election after the socialist upstart won Tuesday's primary. Silwa lost to incumbent mayor Eric Adams in a landslide four years ago, but believes he has a much better chance this time after the bitter Mamdani-Cuomo faceoff. Sore losers Adams and Andrew Cuomo are expected to contest the election as independents after failing to win the Democratic nomination. Their presence on the ballot could split the left-wing vote so badly that Silwa could sneak in first if NYC's Republicans all show up to the polls. 'I'm the only Republican and I start with 30 per cent of the vote, minimum, so if I go up a few percentage points, I'm mayor,' he told the Daily Mail. 'All you have to do is do the math.' Mamdani, 33, came from obscurity to outgun Cuomo with a well-organized ground game blanketing the entire city with enthusiastic canvassers and slick marketing. Usually winning the primary would be all it took to become mayor in deep-blue NYC that hasn't elected a Republican since Michael Bloomberg in 2005, and even he only switched parties to avoid a crowded Democratic primary. But this time Mamdani will have to overwhelm his far more experienced rivals a second time as they refuse to go quietly. Another wildcard in the race is former assistant US attorney Jim Walden who is also running as an independent. No polls simulating a battle royale between Adams, Cuomo, Mamdani, and the rest of the field have been conducted. Two polls by Emerson College pitting Cuomo against Adams, Silwa, and Walden showed him easily winning, and the same if he was swapped for Mamdani. Other polls with an even wider field by the Manhattan Institute showed similar results, but none included both Cuomo and Mamdani. Silwa heads the vigilante group Guardian Angels, who in their distinctive red jackets and berets claims to foil crime on NYC streets. He is unsurprisingly running on a law and order platform, pledging to hire 7,000 extra NYPD officers and repeal Cuomo's bail reforms, which he claims let too many violent criminals back onto the streets. Silwa also plans a big effort to reduce fare evasion on the subway and prioritize prosecuting suspects accused of crime against women and minorities on it. Teams of social workers would also roam the subway network to assist homeless and mentally ill people and get them into shelters. He also hopes to address NYC's housing shortage by changing zoning rules and building more density outside Manhattan. Vegan Silwa also believed his animal-friendly views and policy of banning shelters from killing strays would give him an edge. 'It's an icebreaker with so many people who would never vote for a Republican,' he said. Silwa said Mandami's rivals failed because they didn't understand the changing mood and demographics in NYC, and what young people want. 'What Cuomo and Adams don't understand because they are baby boomers, is we're the minority now,' he said. 'This is the 1960s all over again, they can't figure out why you growing your hair long, why are you smoking weed? Why are you going to anti-war protests? 'Mandami represents that counterculture. 'I'm used to dealing with young people, I understand how they think, I understand what motivates them 'You will lose the millennials if you make it us versus them, and they are the majority now of the population.' Silwa said Cuomo 'self-destructed' because he was out of touch. 'They're not in the neighborhoods, they're not in the streets, they spend all their time up in the suites. That was Andrew Cuomo's problem,' he said. Mamdani took a commanding 43.51 per cent to 36.42 per cent lead over Cuomo in the first round of counting with Brad Lander in third with 11.31 per cent. As no candidate has more than half the vote, the ranked choice voting system will kick in to decide the winner based on preferences. But Mamdani's lead was big enough for Cuomo to concede the primary to his rival late on Tuesday night. Cuomo, in a speech to supporters, said Mamdani 'won' and that 'we are going to take a look and make some decisions. Tonight is his night'. All three Democrats have serious baggage that could depress turnout among left-leaning voters and further aid Silwa's chances. Adams didn't even contest the primary after polls showed he was certain to lose, and instead declared he would run as an independent from the outset. Goodwill from his rousing 2021 victory quickly evaporated after he was charged with corruption in September for allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish Government in exchange for influence. He was charged with with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and accepting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. Adams was also accused of defrauding New York City taxpayers of $10 million through allegedly fraudulent campaign financing. 'What NYC deserves is a mayor who's proud to run on his record - not one who ran from his record, or one who has no record,' Adams said after Mamdani's victory. 'We deserve a mayor who will keep driving down crime, support our police, fight anti-Semitism, and stand up for working-class New Yorkers. It's time to unite.' Donald Trump forced ordered prosecutors to dismiss the charges earlier this year, around the time Adams suddenly began vocally backing the president's migrant crackdown. Despite avoiding possible federal prison, Adams' electoral support evaporated and he had virtually no chance of getting the nomination. Silwa mocked Adams as being in Trump's pocket after he bailed him out. 'The only reason he's not in jail is because of President Donald Trump,' he said. 'He's a eunuch now. When President Trump calls and he says, Eric, I want you to jump, he asks how high.' Cuomo, who won three terms as New York governor, resigned in 2021 after a report from the state attorney general concluded he sexually harassed 11 women. He denied any wrongdoing and later said he regretted caving to pressure and stepping down. Cuomo's career was raised from the dead on the back of massive donations from wealthy Americans to his super PAC Fix the City. Mamdani has little professional experience, having only been employed a total of three years between graduating college in 2014 and his election to the New York State Assembly in 2020. He is also accused of not doing very much once he was elected, skipping 231 votes in the Assembly this year, more than half and the most of any member. His proposals include rent freezes, a free city bus service, universal childcare, and city-subsidized grocery stores - all of which are controversial. Mamdani vowed to pay for his extravagant wishlist by raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. To do so, he would need the stamp of approval from Governor Kathy Hocul and state lawmakers - who have already rubbished the proposal. But his biggest problem is he is perceived as anti-Semitic for his anti-Israel views and refusal to denounce fringe elements of pro-Palestine activism who regularly call to 'Globalize the Intifada'.
The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Julie Chrisley was ‘busting out crying' when she learned Trump had pardoned her: ‘God touched President Trump's heart'
Julie Chrisley recalled 'busting out crying' after learning she and her husband, Todd, would be receiving pardons from President Donald Trump. In a segment from Fox News' My View with Lara Trump, the Chrisley Knows Best stars shared their reactions to learning they wouldn't have to complete their 2022 sentences for tax evasion and bank fraud. The full episode is set to air this Saturday (June 28). 'I called Savannah one more time, and she said, 'He did it, he signed it,'' she said, referring to their 27-year-old daughter. 'And I just started busting out crying. And everyone was looking around, and then I just hung up. I was so nervous, I just hung up.' The reality stars and their children, Savannah and Grayson, gave their first interview post-pardoning with Lara Trump, who is also President Trump's daughter-in-law. Todd said a fellow inmate was who told him the news, which he initially didn't believe until a corrections officer confirmed what he heard. "He came by, and he goes, 'Are you good?' And I said, 'As good as I can be.' And he said, 'Todd, you just got pardoned. They sent me down here to make sure you're OK.' And I said, 'Well, they don't need to be worrying about me now. Hell, if I'm pardoned, I'm great,'" Todd said. 'We owe thanks to God. And I say - and God touched President Trump's heart God led the people to advocate for us,' he added. 'And so, I'm grateful because every night I would pray that God would return me home to my wife and my children. And he did that, so I'm grateful.' Todd and Julie Chrisley, both longtime Trump supporters, were found guilty of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans in 2022. Prosecutors said the couple walked away from their responsibility for repayment when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy. They also were found guilty of tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the IRS, and Julie Chrisley was convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, while her husband got 12 years behind bars. Both of their sentences were later reduced. The couple maintained their innocence during a press conference in May that was held shortly after their release. They will make their reality TV return with a new series on Lifetime, which will showcase the trial and its impacts on their family. 'We're going to set the record straight, and now we move forward with our lives,' their daughter, Savannah, said. The full interview is set to air at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 28, on My View with Lara Trump.
Telegraph
27 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Diversity isn't ‘our strength' when millions of foreigners refuse to assimilate
When immigrants came to America, the unspoken deal used to be to 'leave the beefs at home'. As newcomers assimilated, they abandoned ancient feuds that mired parts of the Old World in conflict for centuries. This has been a key to American success. Indians and Pakistanis may be at loggerheads, but in the US they were both 'South Asians' and got along fine. As the Irish Republicans and Scots Irish left Emerald Isle politics behind, so Armenians and Turks, Arabs and Israelis, Hutu and Tutsi all respected the pax Americana. But America as a 'melting pot' was replaced with the mantra ' diversity is our strength '. The evidence for the latter being true is slim. A 2007 study based on a survey of 30,000 Americans found that 'the greater the diversity in a community, the fewer people vote and the less they volunteer, the less they give to charity and work on community projects'. A German study in 2022 suggested that 'the public is more reluctant to support welfare where the proportion of migrants at the local level is larger'. Those promoting open borders and multiculturalism preach that mass migration comes only with benefits, never costs. But that can depend on the home culture of the migrants and how quickly they adapt to a new one. Let's first look overseas. After decades of mass migration, once homogenous Sweden now has a 20 per cent foreign born population. It has also now been dubbed the bombing and gang murder capital of Europe. Children 'whose parents were born abroad are five times more likely to be suspected of murder and manslaughter than Swedes whose parents were born in Sweden,' according to a 2021 study. In many European countries, there is evidence that crime rates among immigrants from certain countries are higher than among indigenous citizens. In Britain, the government is finally taking seriously the grooming rings in several towns that sexually abused white girls. According to a recent report, 'disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds [are] amongst suspects for group-based child sexual exploitation,' so the authorities were loath to confront it, for fear of being called racist. Even the phrase 'Asian ethnic backgrounds' obscures that a large number of men accused of sexually abusing children in the grooming gang scandal were of Pakistani heritage. When Israel and Iran started trading bombs, Brendan O'Neill wrote in The Telegraph that it is 'unbelievable' that 'people are marching in London in support of the evil Iranian regime'. But it is believable. When Hamas raped, murdered, and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis on October 7, 2023, there were public demonstrations in support immediately afterwards in Britain. Police were either powerless to enforce civil order or chose not to. The white British population in London is now a minority. In the last few decades, millions of people from all over the world came to the UK, including many who are openly hostile to Israel's existence. The pro-Iran march was organised by the Palestinian Youth Movement Britain, a group that claims Israel wants to crush Iran 'under the boot of imperialism'. Here in America, the foreign-born population is nearing 16 per cent – the highest level in history, exceeding the previous high of the late 1890s. At the same time, the idea that, when you come to the Midwest, you leave the Middle East behind, is fraying. Local politicians are appealing to micro-constituencies along ethnic or religious lines in ways more reminiscent of the 19th century than the 20th. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist candidate for mayor, has been accused of bringing the sectarian politics of the sub-continent to the Big Apple. He has called Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, head of the nationalist BJP (Indian People's Party), a 'war criminal'. Mamdani's family are Muslims originally from the Indian state of Gujarat, where Modi is also from. When he was a local politician in 2005, the US refused Modi a visa due to his alleged role in communal violence. If you don't know what 'communal violence' is, watch the movie Gandhi where the British Empire's 'jewel in the crown' was partitioned into India and Pakistan in 1947. Millions fled one country for another, and many died in violence between people divided by religion. Today, India has the world's second-largest Muslim community, although they are outnumbered five to one by Hindus. The New Indian Express reported an 84 per cent rise in communal riots in 2024. The Hindu-Muslim squabble is not the only ideological baggage Mamdani's family appears to have brought to America; he's also a hard-core socialist, supporting rent control, free public buses, universal child care, and higher taxes. Mamdani wanted to defund the city's police in 2020, writing that the NYPD is 'racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety'. Although he's running in a city with a large Jewish population, Mamdani is unwilling to say Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state. He has described Israel's action in Gaza as 'genocide' and has attended public protests against Israel. He gets support from 'Jewish Voice for Peace' which, despite its name, is 'a radical anti-Israel and anti-Zionist activist group that advocates for the boycott of Israel and eradication of Zionism,' according to Rabbi Ze'ev Smason of the Coalition for Jewish Values. In Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, a Democratic representative, plays to her heavily Somali district and sometimes appears to conflate Somalia's interests with those of the United States. Omar called it 'really shocking' that president Trump organised a military parade for the 250th anniversary of the United States Army – which won our independence, kept Europe free in 1917-18, and defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan in 1942-45. 'This is not the country we were born in,' says Omar (who was not born here). 'I grew up in a dictatorship,' she told Democracy Now, where she doesn't 'remember ever witnessing anything like' the June 15th parade. Perhaps that's because, in Somalia, the militias tend to kill each other with roadside bombs, AK-47s, and souped-up SUVs called 'technicals', all of which would make for a pretty sad parade. Rashida Tlaib, a congresswoman representing a heavily Arab area of Michigan, never lets you forget that she is Palestinian. She refers to the Palestinian people as 'we,' although she is a US citizen representing Americans of many backgrounds in Congress. In 2023, she was censured by the House of Representatives for 'calling for the destruction of the state of Israel', because of her use of the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'. Tlaib claims that the slogan 'is an aspirational call for... peaceful coexistence', but we all know that a Palestinian state stretching from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean Sea can't coexist with the state of Israel. Let's hope president Trump closing Biden's open border, ramping up deportations, and increasing visa screening can buy us a few calmer years in which to integrate our recent arrivals and inculcate in them a common American identity and purpose to replace what they left behind. Simon Hankinson is a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation and author of 'The Ten Woke Commandments (You Must Not Obey),' forthcoming from Academica Press
