Wall Street Journal editorial board knocks Hegseth’s ‘weirdos’ line in speech

The Wall Street Journal’s conservative editorial board on Friday criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s fiery comment during a Wednesday speech to active-duty officers that he wants “warriors” not “weirdos” in the military.

While the opinion piece praised new initiatives introduced by the secretary during this address, including the development of autonomous warfare technology and partnering with universities for officer recruitment, the board expressed concern that Hegseth’s “gratuitous potshots” could negatively impact recruitment efforts.

“Alas, Mr. Hegseth couldn’t resist his usual polarizing attack routine against all and sundry, and he even accused the press of ‘treason’ for publishing what’s leaking out of the secretary’s shop,” the board wrote.

“The most remembered line of the speech will be Mr. Hegseth’s declaration that the U.S. military no longer abides ‘beardos’ or ‘weirdos,’” the opinion continued. “As a practical matter, has he met anyone in defense technology lately?”

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the secretary’s speech in a statement shared with The Hill on Friday.

“Secretary Hegseth rightfully called out the Fake News media who continue to attack the achievements of our warfighters, as seen in the Wall Street Journal editorial board opinion, but their consistent smears will have no effect on the work to come,” Parnell said.

During his Wednesday speech, Hegseth revived culture-war grievances and declared the Pentagon is “no longer the woke department or the weak department.”

“Simple translation of that: No fatties, no t‑‑‑‑ies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors,” Hegseth continued, using a pejorative term for transgender people.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a co-host of “The View” and former special assistant to President Trump, said during a Friday show she thought Hegseth’s comment was “a parody” when she first saw it posted online.

“We are the greatest fighting force in the history of mankind,” Farah Griffin said. “We’re not weak, we’re not incapable, and I don’t know where he’s hearing this from.”

Farah Griffin called the speech “bizarre” and referenced a new Republican-led effort to remove Hegseth from his role. Last month, GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) introduced an impeachment resolution against the secretary, citing the U.S.’s ongoing military operations against Iran.

Some Republican lawmakers, including Massie, have become increasingly more outspoken against these operations as the conflict stretches into an eighth month. The House has passed three Iran war powers resolutions with the support of several Republicans, and the Senate approved a similar measure in June.