Anticipating an upcoming story questioning his acceptance to a prestigious military academy, embattled Trump nominee Pete Hegseth is preemptively defending himself by posting evidence on social media showing he was offered a spot in 1999. In the midst of a heated battle to secure his nomination as defense secretary, Hegseth took to social media early Wednesday to criticize ProPublica, calling it a “left-wing hack group” and accusing it of preparing a story falsely claiming he was not accepted to West Point that year.
Hegseth ultimately chose to attend Princeton University over the renowned military academy, a decision he attributed to his passion for basketball. Nonetheless, he shared a letter from a West Point admissions officer congratulating him on earning a place in the academy’s class of 2003. “We understand that ProPublica (the Left Wing hack group) is planning to publish a knowingly false report that I was not accepted to West Point in 1999,” Hegseth wrote on X.
“Here’s my letter of acceptance signed by West Point Superintendent, Lieutenant General Daniel Christman, US Army.” In the letter, Lt. Gen. Christman cites Hegseth’s “exceptional potential for future service to your country and fellow citizens,” adding: “West Point’s education and training programs will give you the opportunity to develop that potential fully.”
We understand that ProPublica (the Left Wing hack group) is planning to publish a knowingly false report that I was not accepted to West Point in 1999.
Here’s my letter of acceptance signed by West Point Superintendent, Lieutenant General Daniel Christman, US Army. pic.twitter.com/UOhOVZSfhJ
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 11, 2024
While attending Princeton, Pete Hegseth joined the Army ROTC program in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. “It was a validator for me and an entire generation,” he said, describing his motivation to serve. After graduating, he completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was first stationed at Guantanamo Bay, where he oversaw prisoners of war. Following a brief return to civilian life, Hegseth volunteered to serve as an infantryman in Iraq. Upon retiring from the military and returning home to New York, he described the transition as “jarring.”
“I went from being in a combat zone to being in an apartment in Manhattan and without any contact other than phone calls here or an email here or there with the guys who I had served with, and it was jarring,” he recalled. “I didn’t do much and I drank a lot trying to process what I had been through while dealing with a civilian world that frankly just didn’t seem to care.”
At the heart of the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Defense is whether his post-service drinking became a problematic habit. While Hegseth has openly discussed the challenges of transitioning to civilian life after military service, he insists he has never considered himself an alcoholic. Former colleagues at Fox News and soldiers who served under his leadership have spoken out in support of his professionalism. Meanwhile, his mother has refuted allegations that he has been hostile to women, including claims made by his ex-wife.
