Here’s what happened.
Former Obama official Susan Rice is once again taking aim at common-sense leadership, attacking Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after weeks of left-wing criticism over alleged leaks at the Pentagon.
The controversy comes as President Trump’s administration moves to restore fiscal discipline and sharpen America’s military readiness by cutting unnecessary spending at the Department of Defense.
Susan Rice Launches Partisan Attack
During an appearance on the liberal podcast “No Lie With BTC”, Rice criticized Hegseth’s qualifications, suggesting that being a “white Christian conservative” was enough to secure leadership positions.
“If you’re a white, Christian, MAGA-supporting man, you can be as dumb as a rock and still be deemed qualified,” Rice said, a comment that many Americans found insulting and divisive. The clip, circulated by leftist outlet Mediaite, quickly sparked outrage among patriotic Americans.
Critics say Rice’s comments reflect a growing hostility from the left toward faith, patriotism, and merit-based success.
Smears Over Secure Messaging Apps
Rice’s attack followed a coordinated effort by opponents to smear Hegseth over his use of the secure messaging app Signal for internal communications. While no credible evidence of security breaches has been presented, Biden-era Pentagon holdovers continue to raise procedural complaints in a desperate attempt to undermine reform efforts.
Many national security experts say Hegseth’s leadership has brought much-needed focus back to the Department of Defense, after years of distractions from “woke” programs that weakened military readiness.
Trump Ends DEI Hiring Practices, Focuses on Merit
Earlier this year, President Trump signed sweeping executive orders to eliminate radical “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) programs from the federal government. Corporations across the country have followed suit, rolling back divisive DEI initiatives that critics say prioritized identity politics over real achievement.
As part of this reform, Trump removed the previous Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and directed Defense Secretary Hegseth to clean house.
In February, Hegseth dismissed Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti — the first woman on the Joint Chiefs — citing a commitment to warfighting excellence, not identity-based promotions.
“Any general or admiral involved in DEI woke nonsense is gone,” Hegseth said in a podcast interview before his appointment. “America’s military must focus solely on victory — nothing else.”
Rice Warns About DEI Rollbacks
Susan Rice warned that the rollback of DEI initiatives would harm the “vast majority” of Americans. However, critics point out that Americans overwhelmingly want fairness, merit, and competence — not race-based hiring quotas.
Many believe President Trump’s focus on restoring merit, excellence, and patriotism will ensure that America’s military remains the strongest and most respected force in the world.