Video of Hegseth trailing troops in San Diego workout goes viral
Clips of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lagging behind Marines during a Wednesday workout in San Diego spread online, drawing mockery from commentators, a late-night host and some Republican critics.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 2Videos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth trailing a group of troops during a workout in San Diego went viral on Wednesday 7 October. Raw StoryL “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth set off laughter online after a video showed him trailing well behind a group of troops during a workout in San Diego.” Read at Raw Story ↗ The IndependentLC “Footage from the event showed service members charging ahead as they jogged, with Hegseth noticeably trailing behind them.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1Raw Story, citing Fox News Digital, said Hegseth joined Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at the Miramar Sports Complex for a workout of push-ups, pull-ups, weighted lunges, burpees and other exercises across 10 stations. Raw StoryL “Hegseth joined Marines from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing for a workout at the Miramar Sports Complex in San Diego, Fox News Digital reported.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Left · 1In one clip, troops run past the camera around a track and Hegseth comes into view moments later; in another, he is seen with a medicine ball and appears exhausted. Raw StoryL “Moments later, Hegseth finally comes into view behind the group.”“Another of the videos circulating online showed Hegseth working with a medicine ball before appearing exhausted.” Read at Raw Story ↗
Left · 1The Independent reported that after pull-ups the other troops raced to their next station while a seemingly breathless Hegseth hung back and high-fived those around him. The IndependentLC “the other troops can be seen racing off to their next workout while a seemingly breathless Hegseth hangs back and high-fives those around him.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1The same day, Hegseth visited the USS Abraham Lincoln after its long deployment to the Middle East, according to The Independent. The IndependentLC “The 46-year-old former Fox and Friends Weekend host visited the USS Abraham Lincoln Wednesday following its long deployment to the Middle East.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1Online reaction was largely mocking, including posts from MeidasTouch's Ron Filipkowski, podcaster Akilah Hughes and other commentators. Raw StoryL ““Where’s Pete? Oh there he is,” MeidasTouch editor-in-chief Ron Filipkowski said in a social media post.”“podcaster Akilah Hughes quipped: “No slowies.”” Read at Raw Story ↗
Left · 2Former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock wrote on X, "Who is working on protecting our troops and bring an end to the war?" and added, "Get this loser @PeteHegseth a job at a MAGA gym." Raw StoryL ““Get this loser @PeteHegseth a job at a MAGA gym.”” Read at Raw Story ↗ The IndependentLC “The criticism even came from former members of Hegseth’s own party, with ex-Representative Barbara Comstock writing” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger tagged Hegseth in a video of him lagging, and the Lincoln Project referred to Hegseth's earlier speech saying he wanted "no fatties" in the military. The IndependentLC ““Hey there @PeteHegseth,” he wrote.”““I thought you said no fatties? @PeteHegseth,” a spokesperson for the account wrote on X.” Read at The Independent ↗ Left · 1Jimmy Kimmel joked about Hegseth on Wednesday's show, calling the workout a "Fox News photo op" for crew who had spent almost seven months at sea on a twice-extended deployment in the U.S. war with Iran. The IndependentLC ““But first, they had a workout - a group workout for a Fox News photo op with their leader, a man wearing shorts and more makeup than Kylie Jenner.””“twice-extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has played a major role in the U.S.’s war with Iran.” Read at The Independent ↗
Left · 1The Independent noted Hegseth has said he wants a "warrior ethos" in the military and announced mandatory testosterone screening for personnel over 30; no response from Hegseth or the Pentagon appears in the coverage. The IndependentLC “has previously declared that he wants to infuse the military with a “warrior ethos” and has announced mandatory testosterone screening for personnel over the age of 30” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets treat the clips as a source of ridicule for Hegseth, collecting critical social-media and late-night reactions; The Independent also ties it to the Iran war deployment.
- Emphasis
- Mockery from commentators, Kimmel and Republican critics; Hegseth's own 'warrior ethos' and testosterone-screening rhetoric.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither includes a response from Hegseth or the Pentagon, or any defence of the workout; the full footage context is not given.
- Charged language
- “brutally mocked”“disastrous viral exercise video”“so-called secretary of war”“ridiculed”
- For example
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“Hegseth brutally mocked after disastrous viral exercise video with troops” — Raw Story
“Hegseth ridiculed after failing to keep up with his own troops on training exercise” — The Independent
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Hegseth joined troops for a workout in San Diego on Wednesday 7 October.
- Footage showing him behind the troops spread widely online.
- Former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock criticised him on X.
Pete Hegseth person
No statement from Hegseth appears in the coverage; he is portrayed as having joined Marines for a workout and as having previously promoted a 'warrior ethos'.
“has previously declared that he wants to infuse the military with a “warrior ethos”” — The Independent
Jimmy Kimmel person
Kimmel mocked Hegseth on his show, calling the workout a Fox News photo op for returning sailors.
“a group workout for a Fox News photo op with their leader” — The Independent
Left2 articles
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Hegseth brutally mocked after disastrous viral exercise video with troops: ‘Where's Pete?’
Critical Aggregates social-media jabs at Hegseth over the viral clips.
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Hegseth ridiculed after failing to keep up with his own troops on training exercise
Critical Reports ridicule from Kimmel and Republican critics, linking the workout to the troops' Iran war deployment.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 7 Oct 19:46 First Raw StoryL Hegseth brutally mocked after disastrous viral exercise video with troops: ‘Where's Pete?’
- 8 Oct 14:45 +18h 59m The IndependentLC Hegseth ridiculed after failing to keep up with his own troops on training exercise
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.