Defense Secretary Hegseth Dismisses 'Obsession with Gender' in Military Acknowledgment

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed concerns regarding gender acknowledgment in military operations during a press briefing on Thursday. A reporter questioned Hegseth about his previous statement following U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, where he congratulated 'our boys in those bombers,' without mentioning female pilots who also participated. Hegseth responded by affirming his support for all service members, regardless of gender. "I don't care if it's a male or a female in that cockpit, and the American people don't care," Hegseth stated. He further criticized what he described as an "obsession with race and gender" within the department, asserting, "We don't do that anymore. We don't play your little games." Hegseth emphasized his pride in both male and female pilots, expressing a desire for more women to join such brave and audacious missions.