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FIRST ON FOX—Secretary of Warfare Pete Hegseth appeared on “The Katie Miller Podcast” in a brand new interview the place the conflict chief spoke in regards to the elevated bodily requirements he is put in place for the navy and it is “too unhealthy” if members cannot meet them, even when they’re ladies.
In late September, Hegseth introduced that every one fight personnel can be required to fulfill the very best male customary to be able to keep their positions, including that the division should “restore a ruthless, dispassionate and commonsense utility of requirements.”
When requested by Katie Miller, spouse of senior Trump White Home aide Stephen Miller, whether or not “readiness consists of the truth that solely males needs to be serving in fight roles,” the secretary of conflict expanded on his views concerning the navy’s fight readiness.
HEGSETH WORKS OUT WITH US TROOPS IN MALAYSIA AS WAR DEPARTMENT VOWS ‘WE WILL BE FIT, NOT FAT’
Secretary of Warfare Pete Hegseth addresses reporters throughout a Pentagon information convention in Arlington, Virginia, on June 26, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures)
“My stance has been that requirements have to be universally excessive — and I imply on the male customary excessive. And if that excludes females, then so be it,” he responded. “That is not the intent, but it surely may very well be the impact. And that is OK.”
Hegseth clarified that the division is just not “in search of to push anybody out,” however quite adhering to the “Department of War golden rule” that he set forth throughout a speech to senior navy figures at Quantico in September. The secretary of conflict later mandated that every one U.S. troops watch the speech.
“I talked in regards to the Division of Warfare golden rule. And I’ve requested commanders to recollect it in each determination that they make. Do onto your formation, that which you’d do onto your sons’,” he recalled. “So in case your son or your daughter was in that platoon, and so they have been about to deploy, what would you need? Would you need variety for variety’s sake? Would you need gender equality for gender equality — no!”
“You need the best possible and most succesful it doesn’t matter what — to the very best attainable customary,” Hegseth added.
Warfare Secretary Pete Hegseth workout routines with troops one month after saying new bodily necessities for U.S. navy personnel. (@DOWResponse/X)
Following up her husband’s ideas, Jennifer Hegseth famous that feminine troops have approached the secretary of conflict thanking him for heightening the navy’s bodily requirements.
“What folks do not get to see are all the ladies serving who come as much as him when he is visiting troops all around the nation that say, ‘Thanks, thanks for doing that.’ As a result of if you happen to meet that customary it ought to imply one thing, and it dilutes the entire thing,” she informed Miller. “And so they’re grateful.”
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Miller then requested the secretary of conflict what these heightened bodily requirements imply for male troops who’re “woefully off form” and nonetheless serving.
“Then they need to fail, and they need to fall out,” he replied, earlier than noting that the division is “giving everybody time” to get again into form.
“All of those requirements will apply on a three-to-six month horizon in every service, so going to have an opportunity to play the sort of catch-up they may want to fulfill the usual,” Hegseth continued. “After which after that, the usual’s the usual. And if you cannot meet it, you already know, too unhealthy.”
Katie Miller throughout a dinner with Republican Senators within the State Eating Room of the White Home in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, July 18, 2025. (Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)
The total interview on “The Katie Miller Podcast” shall be launched in full Tuesday night time at 6 p.m. ET on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Rumble and X.
