The mainstream media threw everything they had at Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, but they couldn’t stop him. Vice President J.D. Vance made sure of that, stepping up to defend the former Fox News host and Army vet against a barrage of criticism.
JD Vance perfectly shuts down the false media smear campaign against Pete Hegseth:
"I think he’s doing a great job… the best testament to his leadership of the military is for the first time in a very long time, we don't have terrible recruitment problems in the Army, Navy, and… pic.twitter.com/S73GZZroCt
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 23, 2025
The attacks got nasty, digging into everything from alleged drinking habits to his views on women in combat. But the most ridiculous hit came from the Associated Press, which actually suggested Hegseth was a potential “Insider Threat” because of a tattoo on his arm bearing the Christian motto “Deus Vult,” meaning “God wills it.” Some tried to link the phrase to fringe groups, ignoring its historical Christian roots.
That’s when VP Vance called foul, blasting the AP for “anti-Christian bigotry.” Vance rightly pointed out that the tattoo was simply a Christian motto, not some secret signal. He insisted Hegseth deserved a proper hearing in the Senate, not a “sham hearing before the American media,” reminding everyone that it’s elected senators, not reporters, who have the constitutional duty to confirm nominees.
President Trump also stood firmly behind his pick. Despite the media circus trying to derail the nomination, Hegseth’s confirmation went to the Senate floor.
In a dramatic finish back in January, the vote was deadlocked. But VP Vance was there to cast the deciding vote, confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. It was a rare move, only the second time in history a VP broke a tie for a Cabinet nominee, showing just how determined the Trump administration was to stand by its guy and push back against media smears.
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