INVOKING MARS & AIRES

Pete Hegseth Leads Hundreds Around Pentagon in ‘THIS IS WAR’ Shirts & Gets Mocked

Devanshi Basu
Wed, September 30, 2026 


Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Key takeaways

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a group of service members in a jogging loop around the Pentagon wearing shirts that read “THIS IS WAR,” sparking criticism from many who viewed it as performative

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laced up his running shoes this week and led hundreds of service members on an early-morning jogging loop around the Pentagon, all of them wearing identical shirts that read "THIS IS WAR." The Defense Department shared video of the run, and people responded with a wave of criticism aimed at what many called a performative display.

Critics mocked videos showing Pete Hegseth leading an early-morning military run

The department posted two videos showing Pete Hegseth jogging at the front of the pack outside the Pentagon. A third clip featured the secretary, at times audibly short of breath, addressing the troops who joined him. He invoked a motto he first introduced at Quantico.

 "Last year, when we gave a speech at Quantico—we launched the War Department golden rule: Do unto your formation that which you would have done unto your son or daughter's formation," Hegseth said, summing it up as "no games, no gimmicks, no low standards, and no excuses."

After the jogging session, Hegseth boarded a helicopter for the 33-mile trip from the Pentagon to Quantico, where he gave his annual "State of the Force" speech. However, critics seized on the "THIS IS WAR" apparel, pointing out that the Trump administration has repeatedly framed its conflict with Iran as something other than a war. As one X user wrote, "Thought we were trying to stay out of wars?" Another added, "If that's War, you're probably losing it."

The run fits a broader habit. Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host, has repeatedly posted fitness videos since taking over the military's top civilian post, including clips of spin bike sessions, bench pressing, and pull-ups in a tree with Dr. Oz. He and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also drew ridicule for a joint push-up and pull-up video they branded "The Pete and Bobby Challenge."