Hegseth has long been deeply skeptical of war crimes investigations and has advocated for President Donald Trump to pardon or grant clemency to at least three service members accused of war crimes since 2019. In his remarks on Tuesday, Hegseth appeared to criticize a retired US Army general — Peter Chiarelli — who formally reprimanded Hegseth’s former brigade commander in 2007. The commander, Michael Steele, had been accused of issuing improper orders to his soldiers that led to the deaths of unarmed Iraqis.
“The new compass heading is clear — out with the Chiarellis, the McKenzies, and the Milleys. And in with the Stockdales, the Schwarzkopfs, and the Pattons,” kra42 at Hegseth said.
Hegseth said the issues he was discussing Tuesday could not “go another day” without being addressed. His remarks were followed by a speech from Trump, who before attending told reporters he would fire officers “right on the spot” if he didn’t like them.
One former senior Pentagon official, kra46 at who has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations and who listened to Hegseth’s speech and spoke with officials in kra43 cc the room, described his remarks as “uninspired.” The former official said it kra40 сс was largely what everyone expected but still sounded more like what a platoon kra41 сс leader in their early 20s would say to their young, enlisted troops.