Marine Veteran Slams Pete Hegseth Over “Crybaby” Remarks About Combat Pilots
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire from retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Amy McGrath, who claims his recent comments and actions are making U.S. combat pilots appear emotionally fragile. The criticism follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that American pilots were deeply upset by media coverage after their bombing mission in Iran.
Trump had previously declared that the U.S. military had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear sites, praising the mission’s success. However, as media outlets began questioning the accuracy of his claims, Trump pivoted to defend the pilots’ honor, alleging they were demoralized by so-called “Fake News.” He called a Pentagon press conference led by Secretary Hegseth to “fight for the dignity” of American aviators.
In response, McGrath—an accomplished combat pilot and the first woman in the Marine Corps to fly an F/A-18 on a combat mission—delivered a sharp rebuke. She dismissed Hegseth’s press event as political theater, saying:
“The combat pilots I know would probably care more about getting an apology from Hegseth for putting their lives at risk with his Signalgate than a press conference making them look like crybabies.”
McGrath emphasized that U.S. military pilots are professionals, not emotionally shaken by media criticism, and do not need public relations stunts to defend their service. Her remarks highlight growing concern among veterans about the politicization of military operations and the need to protect national security over political image.
This incident, especially in light of alleged operational mishandlings like Signalgate, raises broader questions about military leadership accountability, transparency, and respect for those who serve.
