Peter Hegseth
Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Secretary for the Department of Defense poses a significant threat to American Muslims due to his history of Islamophobic rhetoric and actions. As an executive at Concerned Veterans for America, Hegseth reportedly shouted “Kill all Muslims!” during a 2015 work trip, highlighting his deep-seated bias. He later used his platform to advocate for the pardon of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who was charged with war crimes, including killing Muslim civilians in Mosul and stabbing a teenage Muslim prisoner of war before posing with the corpse. Hegseth’s endorsement of Gallagher, despite overwhelming evidence, demonstrated his disregard for accountability and the rule of law, particularly in cases involving violence against Muslims. Hegseth’s appointment raises serious concerns about his ability to fairly oversee policies impacting thousands of American Muslims.
Hegseth poses a significant threat to American Muslims due to his history of Islamophobic rhetoric and actions. Hegseth, in his book American Crusade, depicts Islam as a natural, historic enemy of the west. Hegseth’s book presents distorted versions of Muslim doctrine in “great replacement”-style racist conspiracy theories and treats leftists and Muslims as bound together in their efforts to subvert the US. His past writings and commentary as a prominent Fox News personality, reveal a belief that Islam is a violent force threatening to overtake America, which he argued should be countered by a new "crusade."
As lawmakers prepare to examine Hegseth’s record ahead of his Senate confirmation to become defense secretary, his past actions and rhetoric come under renewed scrutiny. In this role, he would oversee thousands of American Muslim members of the armed forces, manage a vast global network of bases, and control the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The Pentagon, as one of the nation’s most diverse institutions, includes individuals from a range of races, ethnicities, birthplaces, and religions—many of whom could face bias under Hegseth's leadership given his history.
In addition to his Islamophobic rhetoric, Pete Hegseth has faced accusations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement during his tenure at Concerned Veterans for America, issues that have garnered considerable media attention. However, his anti-Muslim remarks and actions, which have far-reaching implications for the safety and dignity of American Muslims, have not received the scrutiny they warrant. This disparity in coverage sends a dangerous message, implicitly suggesting that Islamophobia is a lesser offense and allowing individuals in positions of power to feel emboldened in their bigotry. Such neglect is a failure of civil society and the media, which must prioritize reporting on violence and prejudice against Muslims to hold public figures accountable. As a society, we have a responsibility to ensure that anti-Muslim hate is treated with the same gravity as other forms of discrimination and misconduct.
What MPAC Is Doing:
We are calling on President-Elect Trump and his transition team to require Peter Hegseth to comply with our requests: to retract his Islamophobic statement, issue a public apology, and clarify his stance on the use of violence against Muslims. Additionally, we urge the Senate Armed Services Committee to include the following questions in Hegseth’s confirmation hearing to ensure he is held accountable for his words and actions:
Do you stand by your previous comments calling for the harm of Muslims?
How do you reconcile these comments with your potential role in overseeing the military, which includes thousands of Muslim service members?
What steps will you take to promote inclusivity and respect for religious diversity within the military?
Given your past advocacy for a convicted war criminal who killed Muslim civilians, how do you address concerns about your fitness to serve as Secretary of Defense?
We firmly believe that confirming Pete Hegseth’s nomination without a full retraction and explanation of his anti-Muslim remarks would be both irresponsible and a disservice to the legacy of American Muslims who have bravely fought and sacrificed for our nation since the Revolutionary War.
