🚨 URGENT CALL-TO-ACTION 🚨 Pete Hegseth: A Dangerous Nominee for Secretary of Defense
✅ Toolkit
Rapid Response for Our Freedoms Toolkit - NO on Pete Hegseth
Hashtags: #PeoplePowerUnited #ForOurFreedoms #NoOnHegseth
What’s in this toolkit?
Convicted 34-time felon
and President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department as the Secretary of Defense.
The United States military, the world's most powerful and professional fighting force, deserves a leader who embodies the highest standards of integrity, competence, and impartiality. Our service members and their families sacrifice deeply to defend this nation, and they deserve a Secretary of Defense who prioritizes their well-being, honors their contributions, and leads with wisdom and experience. A capable leader must uphold the Constitution, ensure the military remains nonpartisan, and foster an environment where merit and excellence thrive, regardless of gender, religion, or background. Anything less undermines the trust of those who serve and jeopardizes the security of the nation they protect.
Hegseth’s nomination must be viewed in the context of Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and alignment with adversaries like Vladimir Putin. Trump’s preference for loyalty over competence undermines democratic institutions and weakens the U.S. on the global stage. Hegseth’s staunch loyalty to Trump and his promotion of Christian nationalism align with policies that prioritize ideology over national security, making him a liability in the face of rising global threats from Russia and China.
A Pentagon led by Hegseth risks becoming a partisan tool, prioritizing MAGA loyalty over mission readiness. Such leadership emboldens adversaries seeking to destabilize Western democracies, undermining U.S. security and eroding the trust of service members dedicated to protecting the nation. Past actions show that Pete Hegseth is unqualified and too extreme lead the Department of Defense.
History of Misconduct Allegations: Hegseth has faced accusations of sexual assault, abusive misogyny, and financial mismanagement during his tenure with veterans' organizations, raising questions about his integrity and fitness to lead the Department of Defense.
Partisan Loyalty Over Expertise: With no substantial experience in defense policy or large-scale leadership, Hegseth’s qualifications rest on his media presence and unwavering loyalty to Donald Trump, undermining the nonpartisan nature of the military.
Undermining Military Inclusivity: Hegseth's misogynistic rhetoric and opposition to women in combat roles threaten the inclusivity and cohesion of the armed forces, potentially weakening morale and operational effectiveness.
Politicization of the Pentagon: His proposal to "clean house" by targeting Pentagon leaders not aligned with MAGA ideology risks politicizing the military and jeopardizing its apolitical tradition.
Threat to National Security: Hegseth’s alignment with Trump’s authoritarian tendencies and dismissal of strategic defense priorities could embolden adversaries like Russia and China, leaving the U.S. vulnerable on the global stage.
Promotion of Christian Nationalism: Hegseth’s attraction to white Christian nationalism raises concerns about discrimination within the ranks and alienating service members of diverse backgrounds, undermining the military’s unity.
Defense of War Criminals: His defense of individuals accused of war crimes signals a disregard for the rule of law and ethical standards, setting a dangerous precedent for the military's moral and legal obligations.
Why It Matters
The position of Secretary of Defense demands an unwavering commitment to democratic values, sound judgment, and expertise in defense policy. Hegseth’s record, marked by partisan rhetoric, defense of war criminals, and a history of misogyny, fails to meet these standards. His nomination endangers the integrity of the Department of Defense and the readiness of our military.
The United States deserves a leader who will defend against authoritarian threats, uphold constitutional values, and reflect the honor and professionalism of those who serve. Pete Hegseth’s nomination represents a direct threat to these principles, and it must be rejected to ensure the safety and security of our nation.
Pete Hegseth lacks the experience, integrity, and leadership our military deserves. His nomination is a threat to national security.
Time is of the essence. We need to get loud and keep amplifying a NO Vote on Pete Hegseth.
Keep taking action—your voice matters! Every share on social media brings us closer to stopping this dangerous appointment. Together, we can make a difference—don’t let up!
Send a Message
Click here to send a direct message to your Senator to oppose Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense.
Click here to sign the petition to oppose Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.
Find your member of Congress and submit a comment on their congressional site
Make calls
Here is the number for the capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or you can find their contact information here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
Call your Senator (202) 224-3121 and tell them to oppose Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense:
Call your Senator (202) 224-3121 and tell them to oppose Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense:
Hi there! I am a constituent who lives in ________, and I am calling to urge the Senator to vote NO on the nomination of Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense. He is too extreme, dangerous to our rights, freedoms, democracy, the rule of law, and a danger to our national security. America deserves leadership grounded in unity and dedicated to the greater good, not driven by extreme political ideologies. Please vote NO on Pete Hegseth.
You are also encouraged to call any and all Senators on the committees that are doing oversight on Pete Hegseth, Armed Services is first up. Perhaps try reaching 1 or 2 a day. Remember if they sit on a committee they need to hear from everyone not just folks for their state. Final Senate vote likely the week of January 20, 2025.
Record a Video
Record a quick 30 second video message stating why it is important to reject Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
Post it on social media and please add the hashtags #NoOnHegseth #PeoplePowerUnited and tag us so we can share and amplify.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplepowerunited
Instagram https://instagram.com/peoplepoweruni
Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/peoplepowerunited.bsky.social
Twitter - We left Twitter because it fosters lies, hatred, and bigotry. You are welcome to share these messages there if that is where you find community.
Message your Senator on Social Media
Find your member of Congress and nudge them on social media. Nudge them on Twitter
Send a Letter to the Editor
Write a 150 to 250 word letter to the editor sharing why you think America can do better and why the Senate must vote no on Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense. Click here to find your local newspaper.
Feel free to wordsmith this:
Subject: Pete Hegseth Is Unqualified and Dangerous
The nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense raises profound concerns about the future of our military and national security. The United States armed forces, built on principles of honor, integrity, and nonpartisanship, deserve leadership that upholds these values. Hegseth's track record, however, reveals a dangerous disregard for the very standards essential to this role.
Hegseth's qualifications are limited to partisan media appearances and loyalty to Donald Trump. He lacks meaningful experience in defense policy or the large-scale leadership required to oversee the Department of Defense. His public statements opposing women in combat roles, coupled with allegations of misogyny and misconduct, undermine the inclusivity and morale that are critical to a cohesive and effective military.
Moreover, Hegseth’s calls to "clean house" by removing Pentagon leaders who do not align with MAGA ideology threaten to politicize the military, compromising its apolitical nature. In a time of increasing global threats from adversaries like Russia and China, such partisanship puts U.S. security at significant risk.
Our service members and their families sacrifice deeply to protect this nation. They deserve a Secretary of Defense who prioritizes their well-being, defends democratic values, and ensures military readiness. Pete Hegseth’s nomination fails to meet these essential criteria. The Senate must reject his appointment to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of our armed forces.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Social Media Posts
Pete Hegseth lacks the experience, integrity, and leadership our military deserves. His nomination is a threat to national security. #NoOnHegseth
Misogyny, misconduct, and partisan loyalty define Pete Hegseth’s record. This is NOT what the Secretary of Defense should stand for. #NoOnHegseth
The Pentagon must remain nonpartisan. Pete Hegseth’s agenda threatens to politicize our military and endanger our democracy. #NoOnHegseth
With no real defense policy expertise, Hegseth’s qualifications boil down to MAGA loyalty. America deserves better. #NoOnHegseth
A Secretary of Defense who defends war criminals and promotes misogyny? That’s Pete Hegseth. He’s unfit to lead. #NoOnHegseth
Our military is built on honor and professionalism. Pete Hegseth’s history of misconduct and divisive rhetoric undermines those values. #NoOnHegseth
Pete Hegseth is a danger to our troops and our nation. His nomination must be rejected. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s agenda prioritizes MAGA ideology over military readiness. He’s unqualified and dangerous. #NoOnHegseth
The Pentagon needs expertise and integrity, not partisan politics. Pete Hegseth is the wrong choice. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s history of opposing women in combat roles threatens military cohesion and progress. #NoOnHegseth
Mismanagement, misogyny, and misconduct—Pete Hegseth has no place leading the Department of Defense. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s nomination is a slap in the face to every service member who defends our nation. Reject him. #NoOnHegseth
A Pentagon led by Pete Hegseth risks prioritizing Trump’s loyalty over America’s security. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s attraction to white Christian nationalism is a danger to the diversity and unity of our armed forces. #NoOnHegseth
The Secretary of Defense must defend the Constitution, not MAGA loyalty. Pete Hegseth fails this critical test. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s nomination endangers our military’s apolitical tradition and compromises national security. #NoOnHegseth
Pete Hegseth’s rhetoric and agenda are divisive and dangerous. Our troops deserve better leadership. #NoOnHegseth
With Hegseth at the helm, the Pentagon could become a partisan battleground. That’s unacceptable. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s lack of qualifications and history of misogyny make him a dangerous choice for Secretary of Defense. #NoOnHegseth
Our troops deserve a leader who values their sacrifice and upholds our values—not Pete Hegseth. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s plans to "clean house" threaten to undermine the Pentagon’s integrity and readiness. #NoOnHegseth
The Senate must reject Pete Hegseth’s nomination to protect our military and democracy. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s nomination aligns with authoritarianism, not American values. Say NO to this dangerous choice. #NoOnHegseth
Pete Hegseth’s record shows he’s unqualified and unfit to lead our military. #NoOnHegseth
Hegseth’s divisive rhetoric and MAGA loyalty threaten the very foundation of our armed forces. #NoOnHegseth
Feel free to use this graphic:
Additional Graphics can be found by Into Action
Acknowledgements
This toolkit was inspired by the great work of Declaration for American Democracy Coalition (DFAD), the Not Above the Law Coalition, Public Citizen, Zak Petkanas, MoveOn, Brennan Center for Justice, Defend Democracy Project, Demcast, Into Action, Congressional Integrity Project, and Anat Shenker-Osorio
Rinse and Repeat
Keep taking action—your voice matters! Repeat the calls to action above and check back daily for updates. Every share and submission brings us closer to stopping this dangerous appointment. Together, we can make a difference—don’t let up!
Join us to build People Power! Together, we can champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people's will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.
Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)
Leader, People Power United
Representing America's largest grassroots organization with over 200,000+ members, driven entirely by the energy and commitment of everyday people. We are proudly 100% independent, powered by people—not special interests.

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