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riversedge

(81,364 posts)
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 09:57 AM Mar 19

'What the hell?' Bizarre videos plucked from Pentagon staffers' private chats jolt experts

Source: raw story


Tom Boggioni March 19, 2026 7:37AM ET

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's approach to war messaging has devolved into pure spectacle — TikTok-style video montages splicing missile strikes into movie clips and video game footage — leaving military veterans and Congress members stunned by the brazenness of treating armed conflict like entertainment content.

According to Politico, the White House communications team has churned out more than half a dozen of these viral videos, apparently plucked straight from staffers' private group chats. But outside the administration bubble, the reaction has ranged from bewilderment to outright revulsion.

Former military brass are particularly appalled. "I don't think the performance of our men and women in uniform requires embellishment from Hollywood or computer games," said Joe Votel, a former Central Command chief under Trump's first administration. "They represent the American people quite well on their own."


Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. troops in Europe during Obama's presidency, was even blunter. "It just seems detached from reality. Our allies look at this and they wonder what the hell is going on? It doesn't look like we're serious."
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Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/what-the-hell-2676346998/



Petey most likely will not like the picture included in the article!!


Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's approach to war messaging has devolved into pure spectacle — TikTok-style video montages splicing missile strikes into movie clips and video game footage — leaving military veterans and Congress members stunned by the brazenness..

www.rawstory.com/what-the-hel...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's approach to war messaging has devolved into pure spectacle — TikTok-style video montages splicing missile strikes into movie clips and video game footage — leaving military veterans and Congress members stunned by the brazenness..

www.rawstory.com/what-the-hel...

(@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-03-19T13:50:13.939Z
21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'What the hell?' Bizarre videos plucked from Pentagon staffers' private chats jolt experts (Original Post) riversedge Mar 19 OP
Fish rots from the head. Ocelot II Mar 19 #1
Hogsbreath is a lunatic UpInArms Mar 19 #2
The reality show TV star's administration is not serious? tanyev Mar 19 #3
Serious as a heart attack, in real world consequences Martin Eden Mar 19 #4
May I suggest putting the word intentionally in front of each description ? BattleRow Mar 19 #10
Their actions are intentional, especially the cruelty Martin Eden Mar 19 #16
SAG Whip-poor-will Mar 19 #7
Hilary Clinton was right. Ray Bruns Mar 19 #5
I recall the months that the media dissed Hillary got for using that term riversedge Mar 19 #6
And the word "deplorable" suggests these people are worth crying over. raging moderate Mar 19 #14
Republicans are a walking freak show angrychair Mar 19 #8
"You have Trump derangement syndrome!" Wednesdays Mar 19 #18
This is what happens.... SergeStorms Mar 19 #9
Joe Isuzu? kbowman Mar 19 #11
The whole damn Administration is nothing but "entertainment content". Midnight Writer Mar 19 #12
I can't wait for the day when the US government is dull & functional. Crowman2009 Mar 19 #20
good article on this in NJCher Mar 19 #13
"The White House Goes to War by Any Meme Possible." pat_k Mar 19 #17
"But the White House's Iran videos espouse no ideals beyond domination and power." Wednesdays Mar 19 #19
Kegsbreath is leaking like a overfilled molasses tank. Crowman2009 Mar 19 #15
Pentagon Chat Leak Sparks Shock and Serious Questions naftali Mar 19 #21

Martin Eden

(15,822 posts)
4. Serious as a heart attack, in real world consequences
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:12 AM
Mar 19

Ignorant, immature, unqualified, dishonest, vain, cruel, corrupt, criminal ... and deadly.

Martin Eden

(15,822 posts)
16. Their actions are intentional, especially the cruelty
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 01:13 PM
Mar 19

But most of those descriptions are inherent characteristics.

Whip-poor-will

(422 posts)
7. SAG
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:35 AM
Mar 19

Really ! How many of these cabinet clowns are carrying a Screen Actors Guild card ?

We can't be surprised at them acting their part with one script coddle the rapist

riversedge

(81,364 posts)
6. I recall the months that the media dissed Hillary got for using that term
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:33 AM
Mar 19

and she was spot on!!

raging moderate

(4,632 posts)
14. And the word "deplorable" suggests these people are worth crying over.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 12:56 PM
Mar 19

"Crying over" is the root meaning of the word "deplorable." It is not a vicious word. It suggests genuine disappointment in the persons being discussed, and genuine hope that they may someday realize and correct their mistakes.

angrychair

(12,432 posts)
8. Republicans are a walking freak show
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 10:39 AM
Mar 19

What is wrong with these people? All of them are just the most mentally challenged people I've ever seen in higher office. It's like I'm stuck in an insane asylum being run by the patients.

I think that is the part that gets me. Literally everything they do is some other unhinged brazenly illegal scheme to grift on people and steal our money.
I mean from a DNI that doesn't know her job to a head of the FBI, partying like a nepo-baby with daddy's Black card.
It's just a neverending cluster fuck of unserious people and I'm exhausted.

And their supporters? The audacity, the unhinged lunacy, to look at me and say, "oh you just have TDS. You can't think for yourself" while dressed like a literal clown: wearing a Trump hat, shirt, pants, socks and shoes, all officially licensed stuff from his store, with multiple trump or maga-themed flags and banners and yard signs and car stickers, all made in China, and then arrogantly lecturing me about "America first".
Seriously, fuck these people. Let me off this merry-go-round.

SergeStorms

(20,755 posts)
9. This is what happens....
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 11:03 AM
Mar 19

when you promote the drunken Space Invaders "champion" at the local bar to SecDef.

Midnight Writer

(25,645 posts)
12. The whole damn Administration is nothing but "entertainment content".
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 12:22 PM
Mar 19

That is what got them elected, that is what keeps them in power; a bunch of slack-jawed yokels addicted to sex and violence as entertainment.

Crowman2009

(3,578 posts)
20. I can't wait for the day when the US government is dull & functional.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 01:43 PM
Mar 19

Which I find quite relaxing.

But seriously, I want the federal government to be fully staffed & do it's job (and for the DoD to be slashed in half). Then we can all concentrate on the clusterfuck of a state & local government if we live in a red area.

NJCher

(43,395 posts)
13. good article on this in
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 12:26 PM
Mar 19

NY Times, posted on this thread, which I posted back on March 12.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221093599

Title of the article is "The White House Goes to War by Any Meme Possible."

Here's the archive article:

http://archive.today/GijTu

Wednesdays

(22,985 posts)
19. "But the White House's Iran videos espouse no ideals beyond domination and power."
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 01:36 PM
Mar 19

Could you imagine LBJ, or even Nixon, making propaganda films evoking Superman and Batman "kicking ass" to sell the Vietnam War?

Crowman2009

(3,578 posts)
15. Kegsbreath is leaking like a overfilled molasses tank.
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 12:58 PM
Mar 19

Iran won't need to rely on Russia for any info on future ground attacks since this drunk SOB is bragging about it on social media constantly.

 

naftali

(21 posts)
21. Pentagon Chat Leak Sparks Shock and Serious Questions
Thu Mar 19, 2026, 01:46 PM
Mar 19

This is definitely unsettling. If even a portion of these reports is accurate, it raises major concerns about internal communication, professionalism, and security within such a critical institution. Incidents like this don’t just damage credibility—they also highlight the need for stricter oversight and clearer boundaries in official and private channels.

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