Pentagon Chief Faces Scrutiny Over Top Gun Appearance Claims

Defense Secretary Hegseth Under Fire for Fighter Jet “Top Gun” Stunt

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced public ridicule this week after social media posts misrepresented his role in a promotional video featuring a Navy fighter jet. The controversy erupted when a right-wing account on X (formerly Twitter) claimed Hegseth could fly planes, a statement quickly debunked by the platform’s fact-checking system.

The incident began Tuesday when Hegseth released a promotional video showing him in an F/A-18 Super Hornet, the same aircraft featured in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.” A conservative account, @BehizyTweets, shared the footage with the caption: “It’s settled. Pete Hegseth has to be the coolest Secretary of Defense in American history. I had no idea this guy could fly planes.”

X’s Community Notes feature swiftly corrected the post with a terse two-word response: “He can’t.” The correction was later expanded to read, “Pete Hegseth did not fly this plane or cannot fly any plane currently. He has no known flight training or certification. He was in the back seat.”

While neither Hegseth nor the Department of Defense explicitly claimed the Secretary was piloting the aircraft, critics argue the promotional materials were deliberately ambiguous. The footage, shared by the newly rebranded “Department of War” (a secondary title for the Department of Defense established through a September executive order), prominently featured Hegseth without clearly identifying the actual pilot, Lieutenant Commander Dillon “Bodacious” Hamrick.

Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger weighed in on the controversy, noting, “They really are not saying but kind of trying to imply to people that he flew it.” The Department of Defense did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

The publicity stunt has drawn sharp criticism from military personnel and defense experts, who view it as a misallocation of resources during ongoing military operations. The United States is currently conducting controversial strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, operations that have resulted in casualties and placed American troops at risk.

Dan Grazier, senior fellow and director of the National Security Reform Program, told The Washington Post, “There are better uses of his time than in a simulator and on training flights for what is effectively a stunt. Not only are we inflicting casualties, but American troops are also in harm’s way. So I would prefer our nation’s leaders are keeping a closer eye on the ball.”

This is not Hegseth’s first controversial use of military resources for what critics characterize as personal optics. Last month, the 45-year-old Secretary issued an unusual and costly order requiring U.S. generals stationed worldwide to travel to Virginia for a meeting. During this gathering, Hegseth and President Trump reportedly spoke at length about “warrior ethos,” facial hair policies, and physical fitness standards.

The incident highlights growing concerns about the politicization of military resources and leadership under the current administration. As Secretary of Defense, Hegseth oversees the largest military establishment in the world, with responsibilities that extend from national security policy to the welfare of service members in active conflict zones.

Military analysts note that such publicity stunts can undermine the perception of serious, focused leadership at a time when the Department of Defense faces numerous challenges, including ongoing operations abroad, recruitment difficulties, and evolving national security threats.

While previous defense secretaries have participated in military demonstrations and visited troops in the field, the nature and timing of Hegseth’s fighter jet publicity have raised questions about priorities within the department’s leadership during active military engagements.