Fact Check: AOC Mocks Hegseth for Being Praised for Not Leaking War Plans
What We Know
Recently, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received praise from supporters of Donald Trump for not leaking U.S. military plans regarding potential strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. This praise was notably highlighted by Newsmax host Todd Starnes, who tweeted, “Not a single leak. Well done, @SecDef” (HuffPost). However, this commendation was met with ridicule from critics, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who responded on X (formerly Twitter) by stating, “This is like applauding a grown man for being able to wipe their behind. Not exactly a vote of confidence” (Independent).
Critics viewed the praise as setting a disturbingly low standard for competence in government, particularly in the context of military operations (Yahoo). The incident also drew attention due to Hegseth's previous involvement in a scandal known as "Signal-gate," where sensitive information was inadvertently shared in a group chat (HuffPost).
Analysis
The claim that AOC mocked Hegseth for receiving praise for not leaking military plans is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The original tweet from Starnes and Ocasio-Cortez's mocking response are both documented in articles from reputable news outlets such as HuffPost and Independent.
The context of the mockery is critical; it reflects a broader sentiment among critics who believe that such basic expectations of confidentiality in military operations should not warrant public praise. The phrase used by Ocasio-Cortez effectively captures the absurdity perceived by many regarding the standards being celebrated by some political factions (Yahoo).
Moreover, the sources reporting on this incident, including HuffPost and Independent, are generally regarded as reliable and have a history of fact-based journalism. They provide a balanced view of the events, detailing both the praise and the subsequent criticism, which adds to their credibility.
Conclusion
The claim that AOC mocked Hegseth for being praised for not leaking war plans is True. The evidence clearly shows that she made a statement on social media that ridiculed the low bar set for praise in this context. The incident reflects a significant political discourse about expectations of government officials, particularly in sensitive roles such as that of the Defense Secretary.
