The cohosts of The View were in rare form on Wednesday, spinning themselves into a full-blown panic over President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth—a decorated Army veteran with Ivy League credentials, two Bronze Stars, and combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay—is apparently too “unqualified” for the job, according to these daytime television hosts.
Whoopi Goldberg kicked off the discussion by stumbling over Hegseth’s name before launching into her critique. She didn’t even bother to mention Hegseth’s military service, rank, or achievements, dismissing him simply as “the cohost of Fox & Friends: Weekend.” Not “regular” Fox & Friends, mind you, but the weekend version—as if that somehow discounts his credentials. Never mind that Hegseth has been on the frontlines defending the nation; apparently, appearing on Fox News’ weekend programming is grounds enough for skepticism.
Whoopi Goldberg, who has not served America in any way, mocks Pete Hegseth’s name and ignores his 20 years of decorated military service which included combat tours, and his years of advocating for veterans. pic.twitter.com/ufloM9m8Qt
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 13, 2024
Goldberg’s thinly veiled dig set the tone for Joy Behar, who joked that maybe, by their logic, hosting The View should qualify her to be the U.S. Ambassador to Italy. Sure, because apparently, there’s no difference between discussing Hollywood gossip and hosting a show on military issues. With a resume like Hegseth’s, a little respect wouldn’t hurt, but Behar’s idea of “logic” left no room for that.
Then Sara Haines jumped in, incorrectly claiming that Hegseth served just “a few years” in the military. In reality, Hegseth completed 20 years of service, achieving the rank of Major. Somehow, in Haines’ world, 20 years equates to just a “middle rank” with no relevant experience. She added that he lacks experience dealing with bureaucrats—as if Hegseth’s years of military leadership don’t involve plenty of bureaucratic hurdles. For folks like Haines, “middle rank” apparently means he’s unfit to run a department that is, at its core, about defending the nation and supporting the very soldiers he used to lead.
Despite Hegseth’s decades of military service, Whoopi claims he “clearly does not know anything about the military.”
None of the cast seems to be aware of his service, but their ignorance doesn’t keep them from mouthing off. pic.twitter.com/Gb6Ta4SQ0S— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 13, 2024
They’re so clueless:
Sara Haines falsely claims Hegseth only “served for five or six years” and was middle — midranking.
He served for 20 years and achieved the rank of Major.
She and Alyssa Farah Griffin whine that he has no experience as a bureaucrat. pic.twitter.com/3toAd7UiOn— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 13, 2024
And let’s not forget Sunny Hostin’s contribution. She took it a step further by implying Hegseth’s criticisms of Pentagon leadership might just be racist because he suggested the need for a shakeup at the top, which would include General Charles Brown Jr., a black man. Hostin’s insinuation that Hegseth’s views somehow equate to racism and misogyny isn’t just a stretch; it’s a textbook case of playing identity politics. Hegseth, who has always been outspoken about the military’s need for strong, effective leadership, is targeting policies—not people’s skin color or gender.
Of course, staunchly racist Sunny Hostin suggests Hegseth is a racist and sexist:
“He also said, ‘first of all you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, which happens to be general Charles Brown Jr, a black man.”
“I think we’re seeing misogyny play out.” pic.twitter.com/504uGNjlth— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) November 13, 2024
Meanwhile, over on The View, the idea that Hegseth might have insights into the military’s inner workings—given his years of service and combat experience—seems lost on this panel. Instead, they’d rather debate his television credits and speculate wildly about his character. Never mind his Ivy League education, his Bronze Stars, or his experience in some of the most challenging military settings in recent history. Apparently, that all pales in comparison to having the “right” opinions or not being associated with a network like Fox News.
Pete Hegseth is a decorated U.S. Army veteran, television host, and author with a significant background in both military service and media. Hegseth graduated from Princeton University and later earned a master’s degree from Harvard. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard for nearly 20 years, during which he completed three tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay. For his service, he was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat Infantryman Badge, recognizing his bravery and leadership in combat.
Achieving the rank of Major, Hegseth held positions of command, including as a platoon leader and company commander, where he gained hands-on experience in strategic and tactical military operations. Beyond his military career, Hegseth is widely recognized as a co-host of Fox & Friends: Weekend on Fox News, where he often covers political and military topics with a focus on veterans’ issues and national security. He has also authored books discussing his views on military policy and conservative values, and he is known for his advocacy for veterans’ rights and his critiques of bureaucracy within the Pentagon and VA.
It’s ironic that The View cohosts—none of whom have served a day in the military or dealt with defense policy—seem to think they’re in a position to determine Hegseth’s qualifications. If Hegseth’s service record and decorated career don’t qualify him for the role, then who exactly would satisfy The View’s standards? The outrage on the set of The View says more about their biases than it does about Pete Hegseth’s ability to serve as Defense Secretary.
