The political battle lines are clear.
Opponents of President Donald Trump are not simply challenging policy proposals — they are zeroing in on the people implementing them. The focus has shifted from debating border enforcement to scrutinizing the agents carrying it out. From questioning public health decisions to targeting the officials making them.
On immigration, polls have consistently shown that many Americans support stronger border enforcement and the removal of those in the country illegally. Yet critics have concentrated their fire on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing that enforcement tactics are overly aggressive or improperly executed.
Individual officials have also become focal points.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has faced sharp criticism over enforcement strategy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has drawn sustained attacks over his policy positions and past statements. Vice President J.D. Vance has seen commentary extend beyond politics to include scrutiny of his faith and his family life.
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Supporters of the administration argue that the intensity of personal criticism rises in proportion to an official’s influence. They contend that as policies begin to take effect, opponents increasingly personalize their objections.
Few Cabinet members have drawn as much attention as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose tenure has included significant military and strategic shifts. Admirers describe him as one of the administration’s most consequential figures, while critics have sharply questioned both his qualifications and his approach.
When Hegseth was appointed to his current role, the U.S. military was in dire straits. Leadership had fallen into the hands of those who, to borrow a phrase from the Book of Genesis, had given up their birthright for a “mess of pottage.” They sacrificed essential warfighting skills, military honor, and a commitment to the nation in exchange for blindly adhering to the latest trends in academia. I believe that curbing this nonsense will be one of the significant benefits of the Pentagon’s recent policy regarding the schools allowed for officers pursuing advanced degrees.
Hegseth initiated changes early on with his well-known “all hands” meeting, which mandated attendance from all Flag and General Officers. During this address, he emphasized the importance of physical fitness. Under the previous administration, the standards had been compromised, allowing individuals to pass even the most rigorous military schools despite a range of unacceptable behaviors and a range of sexual perversions.
I would argue that the significant behind-the-scenes changes implemented within the military have played a crucial role in the impressive recruiting numbers achieved by the Department of War, as well as in the seamless execution of four distinct combat operations. These operations include the air campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities, the disruption of narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, the blockade of “dark fleet” tankers attempting to smuggle oil to Cuba and China, and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. There are no comparable instances in American military history for either the operations against Iran or Venezuela.
These changes, especially those related to the campaign against “wokeness” in the military, have made him particularly unpopular among the left. His strong support team in the Pentagon, along with his solid rapport with the men and women in the Armed Forces, only adds to the animosity directed toward him.
One of Pete Hegseth’s defining traits is his commitment to physical fitness. Not only does he maintain excellent personal conditioning, but he also makes it a priority to join in on physical training sessions with the troops during his visits to military units.
On Friday, Hegseth visited Fort Campbell in Kentucky, where he had the chance to reconnect with the unit he previously served alongside in Afghanistan. As an officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard, he led as an infantry platoon leader in the 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment—known as The Rakkasans, a term that means “falling umbrellas” or parachutes in Japanese. In this role, he built a reputation as a tough, skilled, and insightful combat leader.
As expected, Hegseth took part in PT with the Rakkasans, and, just as predictably, he faced backlash for it. Much of the criticism came from social media users who had likely never engaged in anything more taxing than getting up from the couch; for example, headlines like “Pentagon Pete Hegseth Hits Up Old Platoon With U.S. on Brink of War With Iran” surfaced. The suggestion that the Secretary of War should be sheltering in place is utterly absurd. Any military action planned in Iran falls under the jurisdiction of U.S. Central Command. If the Secretary is too preoccupied with operational details, it might be time to reevaluate some personnel. Furthermore, allowing the movements of one individual to signal warnings to our adversaries when operations are in the works is simply not a viable strategy.
What really rubbed people the wrong way was Hegseth’s bench-pressing. What truly got under their skin was his impressive feat of pressing 315 pounds. It served almost as a metaphor for Hegseth’s career: he stumbled and came close to failing, but when it mattered most, he pulled through.
He almost didn't make it.
There was a moment when Pete Hegseth ALMOST FAILED to complete the 315lb bench press.
Yet he succeeded.
These are the moments that define masculinity, and they are what made Western civilization great.
We need more of them.pic.twitter.com/fFfaKJixSL
— The Conservative Alternative (@OldeWorldOrder) February 22, 2026
Suddenly, X found himself flooded with comments from those claiming that 315 pounds was trivial. One individual even asserted that three-quarters of his high school classmates could manage it. Another went as far as to suggest it was all staged. Reality check: Do you really think the troops standing around would let Hegseth pass off a 314-pound lift as 315? If you believe an E-4 is intimidated by rank and wouldn’t call someone out—even a general—when they feel they can get away with it, you clearly don’t understand military culture.
Then there were the critics pointing out that if the six plates on the bar were 45 pounds each, he was “only” lifting 270 pounds. They loudly broadcast their ignorance when it comes to lifting weights, completely missing the fact that the bar itself weighs 45 pounds.
The Daily Beast truly outdid itself in presenting a pathetic narrative. Hegseth had even recorded himself lifting prior to the event at Fort Campbell, with his teenage son there to spot him.
Here’s the headline, dripping with sniffily self-importance: “Pentagon Pete Berates Son Gunner for Nearly Ruining Publicity Stunt.”
Not a one of those jokers at The DB could bench 315, I’m convinced of it – so better to try and ridicule the man who can:
As he lifts the barbell off the rack, Hegseth continues to tell his son not to touch it, affirming, “I’ve got it, I’ve got it.”
The defense secretary dropped the bar down, bouncing it off his chest and pushing it back up toward the rack as his butt indeed lifts to support his efforts. As he nears the height to rest the bar back on the rack, he snaps at Gunner as he reaches to help.
“Don’t touch it!” he exclaims, before lifting it up the rest of the way to rack the bar to clear one rep. “Yeah! There we go, haaa!”
If you’ve ever been a spotter for someone or had someone spot you while lifting weights, you know how crucial it is for the lifter to maintain control and communicate when they need assistance. Honestly, if that’s what they call “berating,” I can only imagine what they’d say if they observed me and my 17-year-old tackling a deck-building project together.
The bottom line is that Hegseth is forging a unique connection with the rank and file that sets him apart from any Secretary of War or Defense in our history. He demonstrates that he can walk the walk, not just talk the talk. By doing this, he’s establishing a standard for their superiors; because if the Secretary of War can bench press 315 pounds, you can bet there will be pressure on plenty of colonels and generals to be seen lifting weights at the gym as well. The military is working to regain the professionalism that was eroded under Lloyd Austin, and the cultural decline is being addressed head-on. Hegseth’s demonstrated competence makes him somewhat bulletproof against criticisms in that area, so those on the left are left searching for other angles. This is what they come up with: spreading lies and mocking Hegseth for working out with the troops, even though many of these critics would struggle to do even a single push-up, let alone lift weights.
They resort to this because it’s all they have left.
