Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks on stage during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 22. ( Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
By Samuel Short November 13, 2024 at 8:13am
What would an election cycle be without Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren making a fool of herself?
After President-elect Donald Trump made headlines Tuesday for picking veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his Secretary of Defense, Warren felt compelled to let America know her opinion via the social media platform X that evening.
Warren — replying to a post from CNN — stated reductively, “A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense.”
A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense.
I lead the Senate military personnel panel. All three of my brothers served in uniform. I respect every one of our servicemembers.
Donald Trump’s pick will make us less safe and must be rejected. https://t.co/6ADUJSm8x6
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) November 13, 2024
Warren made it sound like Trump just gave a quick call to Fox and chose someone he liked regardless of merit.
According to the Associated Press, Hegseth served in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan but does lack experience in a national security role.
USA Today reported, he received two Bronze Stars and the Combat Infantrymen’s Badge.
Is Pete Hegseth a good pick for Secretary of Defense?
In the same article, USA Today also noted his work as an advocate for veterans, leading two veteran’s organizations: Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
One X user responded to Warren, chastising her while including a screenshot of Hegseth’s record. “Your disrespect of a war veteran is not unexpected but it is nonetheless shameful.”
Your disrespect of a war veteran is not unexpected but it is nonetheless shameful. pic.twitter.com/Ku8u2LkSsQ
— Micdrop26 (@micdrop0113) November 13, 2024
Commentator and activist Robby Starbuck told Warren bluntly, “You do NOT respect our troops or you wouldn’t disrespect Pete by calling him just a Fox host.”
Pete Hegseth is literally a combat veteran with 2 bronze stars who led a squadron in Baghdad. He’s worked on veterans issues ever since and he’s also a Princeton + Harvard graduate. You do NOT respect our troops or you wouldn’t disrespect Pete by calling him just a Fox host.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) November 13, 2024
Is Warren really one to pontificate about qualifications?
Americans know her for one thing — claiming American Indian heritage for her family’s “high cheek bones.” That is a dubious qualification, at best, and an idiotically embarrassing one to most who hear it.
Hegseth has served our country while boasting degrees from Harvard and Princeton. He is not out of touch politically given his work with Fox.
Warren is taken aback by Trump’s pick given her condescending elitist view of Washington politics and her superficiality when gaging the quality of federal appointees.
This attitude encapsulates the Washington elite’s disdain for a second Trump term.
Warren can claim — as she does in her post — to respect service members, but her real views are exposed here. If she really did, she would find optimism in Hegseth as a choice.
Sam Short is an Instructor of History with Motlow State Community College in Smyrna, Tennessee. He holds a BA in History from Middle Tennessee State University and an MA in History from University College London.
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