Military fitness experts have criticized publicly posted workout videos of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, saying his exercise form is incorrect.
The critique is significant because Hegseth publicly promotes strict fitness standards for service members while allegedly failing to meet those same requirements in his own routines.
Experts focused specifically on Hegseth's pull-ups and push-ups. One expert said that zero of his pull-ups were performed correctly [2]. The criticism suggests that the 46-year-old former Fox News host sacrifices technique for the appearance of speed [1, 3].
"Pete Hegseth loves to demonstrate his physical fitness—but according to military experts, he needs to work on his form," Tom Bartlett wrote for The Atlantic [1].
Other specialists noted that Hegseth's movements lack the consistency required for official military certification. A retired brigadier general said that the kicking seen in Hegseth's videos is something that would never be allowed in a professional military setting [2].
Further analysis of the footage suggests a pattern of incomplete execution. One military fitness expert said Hegseth struggles with consistency and can be seen not fully executing required movements, which results in him flouting the rules, and sacrificing form for speed [2].
These observations contrast with the Secretary's public image as a proponent of military readiness and physical discipline. The videos, which have circulated online, serve as the primary evidence for the experts' claims that his technique violates the very standards he advocates for the U.S. armed forces [1, 2].
“Zero of his pull-ups were performed correctly.”
This situation highlights a potential gap between the public persona of the Secretary of Defense and the technical realities of military fitness standards. When the leader of the Pentagon promotes rigorous physical requirements for service members, any perceived failure to adhere to those same standards can be used by critics to question his credibility or his understanding of the operational requirements of the troops he leads.
