Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, has a history of criticizing policies allowing gay people to serve openly in the US military. In his 2024 book “The War on Warriors” and in subsequent media promotions, Hegseth described the original “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy and its repeal in 2011 as a “gateway” and “camouflage” for broader cultural changes that he believes have undermined military cohesion and effectiveness.
Hegseth has also argued that these policies, such as allowing women to serve in combat roles and openly transgender members to serve, are part of a larger effort to “erode standards” and promote social engineering. He has written in his book that he was initially ambivalent about the change but came to regret his passive stance, describing the repeal as a “breach in the wire” that opened the door for broader cultural and ideological changes in the military.
In an interview with CNN, Hegseth seemed to walk back his earlier remarks, stating “Oppose the repeal? No, I don’t” and describing the report on his previous comments as “more false reporting.” However, his past comments and writings suggest that he believes allowing openly gay service members has been detrimental to the military.
Hegseth’s comments have sparked controversy, with many critics disagreeing with his views on the need for cultural and social justice in the military. The military has evolved to allow openly gay and lesbian service members, as well as women and transgender individuals, to serve. The pace of change has been met with resistance, but advocates argue that these changes are essential for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military.