Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got criticism this week as he used an anti-trans slur for transgender people during a public event in Iowa. The comment was part of a campaign appearance at the Iowa State Fair and was made seemingly unprompted. In general, it’s tied to the administration’s broader rebranding of the Pentagon.
Pete Hegseth used a slur during Iowa State Fair speech
At the Iowa State Fair on Monday, Pete Hegseth, alongside Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, joined for a “Salute to the Troops” military fundraiser at JR’s Southpork Ranch. During his remarks, the defence secretary referenced Donald Trump’s administration’s rebranding of the Pentagon as the Department of War. He then made the anti-trans slur targeting transgender service members.
“At the Department of War, we do training, not trannies,” Hegseth said. He continued, framing the military’s priorities in contrast to inclusion policies. “It is a day and night difference. Training, lethality, accountability, discipline, readiness—the bedrock of what it means to be an American warrior—is the only focus of our department. Colorblind, gender-neutral, merit-based. That’s it.”
Hegseth’s comment fits a broader pattern from the administration. Trans people have repeatedly become targets in the White House’s cultural fight against “woke” policies, despite making up less than 1 percent of the U.S. adult population. The secretary has been a central lead in that effort. He has previously used similar language casually and recently introduced mandatory testosterone screening for older soldiers.
Last year, Trump signed an executive order barring transgender and nonbinary people from military service. The order described their presence as consistent with “radical gender” ideologies and said it undermined values like being “honorable,” “truthful,” and “disciplined.” The Supreme Court upheld that order in May, though legal challenges are still moving through lower courts.
All in all, Hegseth’s Iowa State Fair remarks add to a growing list of public comments from administration officials targeting transgender Americans, particularly within military policy discussions.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
