Elizabeth Warren Slams Trump’s Pick of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Stumps for Tim Walz (and Recalls Her Own Oklahoma Roots)
In a political twist no one saw coming, Senator Elizabeth Warren has come out swinging against former President Donald Trump’s surprising nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, claiming it’s a “colossal misjudgment of America’s values.” In an unexpected turn, Warren put forth her own nominee for the top defense role: Minnesota’s Tim Walz, someone she says brings “vision and a hazy understanding of his own service timeline” to the table.
To Warren, Hegseth, a decorated veteran and Fox News personality, “represents the kind of reckless militarism America has moved past.” She argues that Walz would bring “a gentler, more introspective form of defense leadership,” particularly with his uniquely flexible memory of his military service dates. This, she insists, makes him the ideal candidate to adapt to changing geopolitical circumstances.
Critics have pointed out that Walz, known for a few, shall we say, discrepancies in remembering when exactly he served, might not provide the stability desired in a role like Secretary of Defense. But Warren swiftly dismissed this: “Tim Walz’s loose relationship with the past is exactly what we need for a future-focused military!”
Warren’s passionate endorsement of Walz also stirred up reflections on her own heritage, as she recalls being deeply influenced by growing up in Oklahoma City, a place she says made her feel “100% Native American, give or take a few dubious DNA tests.” Warren’s pride in her high school’s Native American-themed sports team instilled in her what she calls a “strong connection to the land” and “a steadfast belief in the right to choose whom I deem authentically American.”
Reactions to Warren’s endorsement of Walz have been mixed, with some applauding her for “thinking outside the chain of command” and others suggesting that perhaps her “dream team” in Washington would better suit a satire than a Senate hearing. Nonetheless, Warren continues to insist that Walz’s hazy military record doesn’t obscure his readiness for high office; rather, it highlights his flexibility and adaptability—skills vital for a Secretary of Defense.
