Pete Hegseth didn’t let the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings in France stop him from indulging in a little birthday treat.
Before the official commemorations honoring the day Allied forces stormed Nazi-occupied beaches, the defense secretary opted for a personal training (PT) session with service members on Omaha Beach.
Hegseth, who turned 45 on Friday, posted a video on X showing himself leading a workout drill alongside multiple military personnel where they carried one of their own on a stretcher.
“I had the privilege of doing PT at Omaha Beach, where so many made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,” Hegseth wrote. “We will never forget D-DAY.”
Unlike frequent uniformed cosplay enthusiast Kristi Noem, Hegseth does actually have some military experience to justify his workout. He served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard with active-duty deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whether that résumé alone was enough to justify his elevation to head of the Pentagon remains a hot debate. His confirmation hearing drew sharp criticism over his qualifications, not to mention a trail of damning allegations about his drinking and personal conduct.
Friday’s D-Day events marked the sacrifices of the thousands who died during the massive 1944 Allied assault on France’s coast. The all out attack featuring the largest-ever armada of troops, troops, and planes played a pivotal role in turning the tide against the Nazis and liberating Europe in World War II.
After his PT session, Hegseth delivered a speech at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer. Hegseth paid his respects to those who died 81 years ago, as well as proclaim that the world is a “better place when Europe and America are strong, free and independent.”
“Our nations together have endured a bond, intertwined by history, and we share this hallowed ground beneath our feet, dedicated and consecrated by the blood of our heroes,” Hegseth said.
“It is truly one of the honors of a lifetime to commemorate the sacrifices of D-Day and celebrate the freedoms of our two nations,” he added. “God bless you all, and may God bless our warriors.”
