Pete Hegseth's Controversial Tenure as Secretary of War Under Donald Trump
An episode of The Guardian's Today in Focus, aired on December 11, 2025, centers on Pete Hegseth, who was appointed as Donald Trump's secretary of war in a move described as a shock. The program highlights serious allegations against Hegseth, including war crimes and a damning report regarding his handling of classified information. He allegedly placed highly classified Yemen bombing plans on a group chat and reportedly ordered executions of Venezuelans at sea, reportedly instructing to "kill everybody."
Hegseth is depicted as promoting a "warrior culture" or "warrior ethos" within the US military. He argues that the military fights while hindered by lawyers, oversight, and cultural distractions, which he believes hold back its effectiveness. According to the Guardian US report, Hegseth holds the view that America fights "with one hand tied behind its back" due to these constraints.
The article draws connections between military strikes on Venezuelans in the Caribbean Sea and the alleged war crimes, as well as the ongoing classified-information investigation. The piece also questions whether Hegseth can endure the mounting allegations against him. The episode is presented by Nosheen Iqbal with reporting by Joseph Gedeon.
