Vice President JD Vance defended Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial speech mandating that navy troopers shave their facial hair.
Talking to reporters on the White Home on Wednesday, Vance praised Hegseth for working to return the American navy to its “very high standards” whereas taking a jab on the former Biden administration.
“I thought Pete gave a hell of a speech. And a speech that really is just oriented around returning the American military to the very high standards it has had for virtually its entire history until [former President] Joe Biden came along and decided to lower standards,” Vance stated.
He continued, “I think it was bad for our military, and it was bad for our troops.”
Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, acknowledged that he has a beard now, however argued that he can accomplish that since he’s “now the vice president.”
“When I was a young United States Marine, I did not have a beard. I am now the vice president, so I get to do what I want to do,” Vance added. “But, I think Pete’s trying to implement high standards, and that’s a very good thing.”
Vance’s feedback got here after Hegseth, joined by Trump, spoke at a uncommon assembly of a whole lot of senior navy officers on the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.
Throughout his speech, Hegseth introduced that troopers should shave their beards to adjust to new grooming requirements.
“No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards,” Hegseth stated in his speech, which outlined impending adjustments to the navy below the Trump administration.
He added, “If you want a beard, you can join special forces. If not, then shave.”
Hegseth, who trashed “woke” tradition inside the navy, additionally informed a whole lot of senior navy leaders that he’s bored with seeing “fat generals and admirals.”
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he stated. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world.”
Hegseth added, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling known as Hegseth’s and Trump’s remarks throughout the assembly “insulting” and “offensive.” A number of protection officers additionally slammed Hegseth’s speech, with one arguing that it “could have been an email.”
