Hegseth confirms plan to cut 20% of US top military brass and rails at ‘beardos, weirdos and wimps’

A top U.S. defense official has outlined a hardline stance on military culture, explicitly rejecting diversity initiatives while dismissing concerns about troop morale as unfounded. The remarks include a blunt rejection of physical and ideological traits—such as facial hair, unconventional appearances, or perceived weakness—framing them as incompatible with military standards. Simultaneously, the official announced plans to reduce senior leadership ranks by a significant portion while claiming retention rates remain historically strong. The comments mark the latest escalation in a broader debate over inclusivity and discipline within the armed forces.

Pentagon head hails military with ‘no fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals’ in anti-DEI rantSend us your questions about how the Iran war will affect US voters in the midtermsThe US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has confirmed plans to cut 20% of generals and admirals and declared “no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps” would be tolerated inside the country’s military.Delivering his latest extraordinary attack on diversity, and dismissing reports of low morale within the US armed forces as “false claims”, Hegseth also suggested they were retaining service personnel at “record” rates. Continue reading...