Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired back on Sunday after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled him and other Trump-era officials as “Dumb Effing Individuals” — a jab referencing the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) acronym.
In a fiery interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, Hegseth said the comments were both “astonishing” and “not surprising,” accusing Democrats of resorting to name-calling instead of addressing real policy issues.
“Of course, they don’t like the fact that we’re ripping DEI out of the military and making it colorblind and merit-based,” Hegseth said.
The clash stems from Hegseth’s directive to purge the U.S. Naval Academy library of DEI-related materials, a move that has sparked sharp backlash from Democrats including Jeffries, who pledged to continue pressuring “extremists” pushing anti-DEI measures.
Hegseth dismissed the criticism and pointed to broader priorities under the Trump administration, saying:
“If their whole strategy is minute-long videos on TikTok to call us names while we secure the southern border, kick out Chinese influence, and revive the warrior culture in our military… that’s why they lost in historic fashion to President Trump last time. And their future looks bleak as well.”
Hegseth also highlighted current foreign policy developments, including a “historic agreement” aimed at curbing Chinese influence in the Panama Canal, and Trump’s aggressive stance on preventing a nuclear Iran.
Despite the political crossfire over DEI, Hegseth emphasized that the Pentagon remains focused on rebuilding the military through merit-based leadership, eliminating waste, and investing in next-gen defense tech, including the F-47 fighter jet.
“We’re reviewing how our military academies educate future leaders and issuing guidance to eliminate DEI,” he said. “And I think the American people appreciate that.”