Pentagon Pete’s Own Troops Ridicule His Rebrand With Dark New Nickname

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump’s defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has been criticized for overseeing actions that many consider war crimes, leading some Marines to nickname his department the "Department of War Crimes."
• Rep. Seth Moulton condemned Hegseth’s strategy of targeting Iranian civilian energy infrastructure, equating it to tactics previously criticized in the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.
• Hegseth has faced scrutiny over U.S. airstrikes in Yemen that reportedly killed over 224 civilians, as well as controversial strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and alleged narco-trafficking vessels, raising legal and constitutional concerns.
• The defense secretary has been involved in unauthorized military actions, including a rapid invasion of Venezuela and intensified conflict with Iran, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties, including children.
• Pentagon staff reportedly mock Hegseth with nicknames like “Dumb McNamara,” contrasting him unfavorably with Vietnam-era Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, and it is unclear if this relates to his recent purges of top Defense Department officials.