US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's 2016 Comments on Refusing Illegal Orders Come Back to Haunt Him Amid Controversy Over Venezuela and Colombia Strikes.
In a video recently unearthed by CNN, Fox News contributor and now Pentagon official Pete Hegseth expressed strong support for US military personnel refusing "unlawful" orders from their commanders, including those issued by a potential president. The comment was made in March 2016, when Donald Trump was still a Republican presidential candidate.
Hegseth's stance on the matter seems to be at odds with his current position as Defense Secretary, where he has defended the administration's recent strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which have claimed the lives of over 80 people. Critics label these attacks as extrajudicial killings, claiming that even if true, drug-smuggling is not subject to execution without trial.
Hegseth repeated his views on refusing illegal orders during a Fox Business appearance later that month. He stated, "You're not just gonna follow that order if it's unlawful." This echoed comments he made in an interview with the Megyn Kelly show after a debate between Trump and his opponents, where Trump vowed to revive banned forms of torture.
In contrast, Hegseth now defends President Trump's ability to take military action as he sees fit. He dismissed concerns about the strikes violating international law, saying, "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."
The Pentagon has been embroiled in a controversy over another strike on an alleged drug boat that killed two survivors of a previous strike. Critics have described these attacks as illegal and extrajudicial killings, while Hegseth has called Democrats who express similar concerns "despicable" and reckless.
Critics have also pointed to the fact that Hegseth's 2016 comments on refusing illegal orders were made during a time when he was not yet in his current position. His recent defense of President Trump's actions raises questions about whether he will uphold his own stated principles or prioritize party loyalty.
In a video recently unearthed by CNN, Fox News contributor and now Pentagon official Pete Hegseth expressed strong support for US military personnel refusing "unlawful" orders from their commanders, including those issued by a potential president. The comment was made in March 2016, when Donald Trump was still a Republican presidential candidate.
Hegseth's stance on the matter seems to be at odds with his current position as Defense Secretary, where he has defended the administration's recent strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which have claimed the lives of over 80 people. Critics label these attacks as extrajudicial killings, claiming that even if true, drug-smuggling is not subject to execution without trial.
Hegseth repeated his views on refusing illegal orders during a Fox Business appearance later that month. He stated, "You're not just gonna follow that order if it's unlawful." This echoed comments he made in an interview with the Megyn Kelly show after a debate between Trump and his opponents, where Trump vowed to revive banned forms of torture.
In contrast, Hegseth now defends President Trump's ability to take military action as he sees fit. He dismissed concerns about the strikes violating international law, saying, "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."
The Pentagon has been embroiled in a controversy over another strike on an alleged drug boat that killed two survivors of a previous strike. Critics have described these attacks as illegal and extrajudicial killings, while Hegseth has called Democrats who express similar concerns "despicable" and reckless.
Critics have also pointed to the fact that Hegseth's 2016 comments on refusing illegal orders were made during a time when he was not yet in his current position. His recent defense of President Trump's actions raises questions about whether he will uphold his own stated principles or prioritize party loyalty.
. Like, if you're gonna say that US military personnel shouldn't follow orders they think are unlawful, it's kinda weird that he's defending Trump's actions now when they might be similar... He also said some harsh stuff about Democrats who question these strikes, which is not cool 
. I get that Hegseth wants to support his party, but can't he just stick to what he believes in? 
At least make an effort to justify the strikes without trashing people who disagree with you 
Pete Hegseth is totally conflicted right now, you feel? 2016 comments vs now as Defense Secretary... he's all about defending those strikes in the Caribbean but back then said US troops shouldn't follow orders if they're unlawful. That's some interesting contrast 
, but now he's all about defending President Trump's military actions and it just seems so... flexible 
i mean come on Pete, are you for real? 
or did you just get caught up in the partywagon and forget about your own morals? 
! I mean, think about it... Hegseth was all for refusing unlawful orders back in 2016, but now he's like "just follow orders" 
. But now that he's Defense Secretary, he's basically saying that President Trump can do whatever he wants and it's all good 
. But is that really enough reason to kill them without a trial? I'm not sure 
. Maybe Hegseth should explain why he thinks this is okay and what changed his mind 
.
. His party loyalty shouldn't come before doing what's right 
.
. And what really gets my goat is that he's basically saying that party loyalty trumps integrity... which isn't right 
. It's like his stance on refusing unlawful orders was one thing, but now that he's in a position of power, he's all about supporting the president's decisions, even if they are questionable 
... I don't think it's too much to ask for someone in his position to uphold their own values and principles, especially when it comes to things like due process and international law 
... Anyway, I hope someone keeps an eye on him and makes sure he's not compromising his values for the sake of party loyalty 
. i mean what changed from 2016 to now? did he just get a new contract or something? 
and btw if he really believed in refusing illegal orders back then, why isn't he doing that now? 
. I'm not sure what's more concerning - the fact that he's being inconsistent or that he's willing to call out critics as "despicable" for speaking truth to power 