LOADINGERROR LOADING
Vice President JD Vance defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial speech mandating that military soldiers shave their facial hair.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Vance praised Hegseth for working to return the American military to its “very high standards” while taking a jab at the former Biden administration.
Advertisement
“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 said.
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, but argued that he can do so 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.”
Advertisement
Vance’s comments came after Hegseth, joined by Trump, spoke at a rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officials at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.
During his speech, Hegseth announced that soldiers must shave their beards to comply with new grooming standards.
Advertisement
“No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards,” Hegseth said in his speech, which outlined impending changes to the military under the Trump administration.
He added, “If you want a beard, you can join special forces. If not, then shave.”
Hegseth, who trashed “woke” culture within the military, also told hundreds of senior military leaders that he’s tired of seeing “fat generals and admirals.”
Don’tBuyThe Big Lie
Your SupportFuelsOur Mission
Your SupportFuelsOur Mission
Shine a Light with Us
As the current administration celebrates the shutdown as an opportunity to advance their agenda, no one is there to hold them accountable, but we are. Our reporting ensures truth stays in focus. Join us today.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.
Thank you again for your support along the way. We’re truly grateful for readers like you! Your initial support helped get us here and bolstered our newsroom, which kept us strong during uncertain times. Now as we continue, we need your help more than ever. We hope you will join us once again.
Support HuffPost
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he said. “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.”
Advertisement
Hegseth added, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”