Hegseth Cites Falsehood to Defend His Firing of Senior Officers

Source: New York Times

Hegseth Cites Falsehood to Defend His Firing of Senior Officers

The defense secretary said at a House hearing that President Barack Obama had fired 197 generals, a figure that the Pentagon previously acknowledged was false.


Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions to fire senior military leaders are without precedent in recent decades and have come with little explanation. Kenny Holston/The New York Times

By Greg Jaffe
Reporting from Washington
April 29, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday defended his decisions to fire or sideline nearly 30 generals and admirals over the past year with little explanation by falsely comparing his record to that of President Barack Obama.

“I would also note that under Barack Obama, 197 general officers were removed,” Mr. Hegseth said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. “So this is not something specific to this administration.”

The number Mr. Hegseth gave has no basis in fact. It originated with an unsigned 2018 editorial in Investor’s Business Daily, which cites the right-wing news site “Breitbart.com’s Facebook page” as its source.

Mr. Hegseth’s actions to fire senior military leaders are without precedent in recent decades and have come with little explanation. On Wednesday, lawmakers pressed him to justify his decisions, including his move this month to remove Gen. Randy A. George, the Army chief of staff.

{snip}

Greg Jaffe covers the Pentagon and the U.S. military for The Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/by/greg-jaffe

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/us/politics/pete-hegseth-falsehood-firings.html

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Kevin M. Kruse
‪@kevinmkruse.bsky.social‬

Drunky McFash got the facts wrong? What?!

‪Max Boot‬
‪@maxboot.bsky.social‬
· 8h

“I would also note that under Barack Obama, 197 general officers were removed,” Mr. Hegseth said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. “So this is not something specific to this administration.”

The number Mr. Hegseth gave has no basis in fact.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/us/politics/pete-hegseth-falsehood-firings.html

Hegseth Cites Falsehood to Defend His Firing of Senior Officers
www.nytimes.com
8:47 PM · Apr 29, 2026
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Drunky McFash got the facts wrong? What?!

— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) 2026-04-30T00:47:43.767Z

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Max Boot
‪@maxboot.bsky.social‬

“I would also note that under Barack Obama, 197 general officers were removed,” Mr. Hegseth said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. “So this is not something specific to this administration.”

The number Mr. Hegseth gave has no basis in fact.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/us/politics/pete-hegseth-falsehood-firings.html

Hegseth Cites Falsehood to Defend His Firing of Senior Officers
www.nytimes.com
8:47 PM · Apr 29, 2026
******

“I would also note that under Barack Obama, 197 general officers were removed,” Mr. Hegseth said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. “So this is not something specific to this administration.”

The number Mr. Hegseth gave has no basis in fact.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/u...

— Max Boot (@maxboot.bsky.social) 2026-04-30T00:47:10.770Z