Pete Hegseth is said to have lost the respect of his senior officers after an “embarrassing” speech in which he railed against “fat troops” and the state of the US armed forces.

Zookeeper and conservationist Robert Irwin filed a $60 million lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. A rumor that circulated online in October 2025 claimed (archived) zookeeper and conservationist Robert Irwin filed a $60 million lawsuit against U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

A new memo on communications with Capitol Hill, signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputy, follows restrictions on reporting out of the Pentagon.

"Watch as Gavin Newsom shatters Pete Hegseth's 'Alpha Male Energy' in just 10 seconds. You won't believe what happens next! 😂

The first, and perhaps most obvious, hint that the story was fabricated was that Hegseth no longer works for Fox News.

President Donald Trump has used acronyms like MAGA, MAHA and DOGE. FAFO stands for 'f--- around and find out.' Hegseth said it at the military meeting

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the incident on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and noted that Pete Hegseth “is safe” following his plane's emergency landing in the U.K.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has restored but downgraded an independent, internal Pentagon think tank focused on future wars, seven months after dismantling the agency in the name of accountability and efficiency, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post and people familiar with the matter.