Like a political thriller movie villain, Pete Hegseth visited Quantico on Sept. 30, 2025 to talk to military leaders about his plans for the Department of War and what he believes should be the new standard when it comes to physical fitness and readiness among soldiers. And that would be fine (even though I still can’t get around the change from the Department of Defense, but OK), but Hegseth’s comments about women in the military sent some mixed messages for some.
In his talk on-stage, against a backdrop of the American flag, Hegseth spoke about the changes he wants to see from soldiers whether they are in the field or at a desk. And, according to Fox News, Hegseth said that male and female soldiers will be required to fall in line with the highest male standards for training in order to remain in the service. What does that mean for women? Apparently, nothing, according to Hegseth, who said he admires women in the military. But we can all see the subtext.
Pete Hegseth’s message about women in the military is pretty sneaky.
In Hegseth’s speech at Quantico, he said that he is tired of seeing “fat generals” at the Pentagon and declared that soldiers would have to engage in rigorous physical training now, more than ever before. He also called out women having to meet the highest male standards set out in different branches of the U.S. military.
“This is not about preventing women from serving,” Hegseth said. “We very much value the impact of female troops. Our female officers and NCOs are the absolute best in the world. But when it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender-neutral. If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is.”
He added that it could mean some women won’t qualify for combat, which is something he accepts, if it comes down to it for some female soldiers. Although he claimed to value the female troops in the military, some users on social media took Hegseth’s comments about the male standard in physical fitness to be a direct challenge in getting women out of combat altogether.
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Maga has more homoerotic advertising than anybody in history. Pete Hegseth is trying to drive women out of the military so only white men are left. Hmmmm. Sounds like Spartan culture. Look it up.”
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth wrote, “Pete Hegseth’s views on women serving in combat — and apparently also on our right to vote — are beyond shameful and flat out wrong.
The tens of thousands of women he’s commanding are actually qualified and earned their jobs, unlike him. He’s a disgrace to our brave servicemembers.”
This isn’t the first time Hegseth spoke out against women in the military. In 2024, he appeared on the Shawn Ryan Show and said that women should not be in combat roles. At the time, he claimed that having women in such physically demanding roles has not improved the military. He added that “men in those positions are more capable.”
Flash forward to his 2025 event at Quantico, and clearly, Hegseth had some ideas about women in the military that were brewing long before Trump bestowed his government title on him.
