Defense Secretary Hegseth came to his position from his job as a weekend host on the Fox News Channel. “Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home. I did all of this in service to this country that I love and has given me so much. They include the Navy Pilot Astronaut Badge, earned by fewer than 200 service members, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that.

Source: New York Times January 13, 2026 07:34 UTC