Bulwark Takes

Episode: Is Hegseth the Dumbest Man in the Trump Admin?

Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Will Saletan (The Bulwark)

Episode Overview

In this sharply critical episode, Will Salatan explores the controversial actions and rhetoric of Pete Hegseth, the Trump Administration’s Secretary of War, amid the ongoing U.S. war with Iran. The main focus is Hegseth’s divisive public briefings, where instead of uniting the nation or building international coalitions, he alienates political rivals, American allies, and even the media. Salatan systematically highlights Hegseth’s pattern of pettiness, incompetence, and inflammatory speech, questioning whether he might be "the dumbest person in the Trump administration."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hegseth’s Partisan Attacks During Wartime

• Initial Focus on Domestic Political Enemies

  • Hegseth uses his first war briefing (March 2) not to discuss the enemy (Iran) but to attack former President Obama:
    • "Iran had a conventional gun to our head as they tried to lie their way to a nuclear bomb. It almost worked under Obama and his terrible deal, but not under this president."
      (Hegseth, 01:29)
  • Commentary: Will points out that Hegseth is “back here fighting a domestic political war” instead of focusing on uniting Americans during an actual war.
    • (Salatan, 01:41)

• Continued Shots at Former Presidents

  • Praises Trump as a “genius” while denigrating Biden and, by extension, voters for both presidents.
    • "He has shown ability to do that other presidents can't quite seem to have the aperture to do. Well, I mean, Joe Biden didn't even know what he was doing." (Hegseth, 02:21)
  • Salatan notes: “Most Americans who voted for president in the last 20 years voted at some point for Obama or Biden. And here is the Secretary of War taking a gratuitous shot at all of those people.”
    • (Salatan, 02:29)

• Expanding Attacks to Republicans

  • Criticizes past GOP administrations (specifically George W. Bush and Paul Bremer) to demonstrate Trump’s superiority.
    • "Thus far, Operation Epic Fury has delivered twice the air power of shock and awe of Iraq in 2003, minus Paul Bremer and the nation building." (Hegseth, 03:22)
  • Will’s reaction: “He is trying to use this new war to settle his personal scores with all the Democrats and Republicans he doesn't like.”
    • (Salatan, 03:33)

Ongoing Pattern of Division

• Repeatedly Targeting Past Leaders
  • References to Bush, Obama, and Biden as having engaged the U.S. in “endless nation building,” blaming them for quagmires and failed missions.
    • “This is not endless nation building under those types of quagmires we saw under Bush or Obama.” (Hegseth, 04:29)
    • "This country's conditioned to previous leaders, whether it's George W. Bush or Barack Obama or Joe Biden, who had these expansive, nebulous mission sets that kept changing all the time." (Hegseth, 04:43)
    • "Watched previous foolish politicians like Bush, Obama, and Biden squander American credibility." (Hegseth, 05:03)

Attacks on Democrats, Broadly

• When asked about House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries' criticism of the war, Hegseth responded:
  • "Well, I've been through that movie before with Democrats rooting against the country." (Hegseth, 05:39)
  • Salatan: “Your job is not to win a political fight with the other party. Your job is to win an actual war.” (Salatan, 05:44)

Undermining U.S. Allies

• Insults Toward European Allies

  • Dismisses traditional partners as weak and ungrateful:
    • "Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force." (Hegseth, 06:34)
    • "Our ungrateful allies in Europe, even segments of our own press, should be saying one thing to President Trump: Thank you." (Hegseth, 07:10)

• Mocking the UK

  • When questioned about allied participation in operations near Iran:
    • "Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well." (Hegseth, 08:09)

• Avoids Criticizing Russia/China

  • Refuses to single out Russia and China for helping Iran:
    • “We know exactly what they're doing... We don't have to air publicly what all of that is.” (Hegseth, 08:37)
  • Salatan: “It's almost like Pete Hegseth is more respectful of Iran and Iran's allies than America's allies.” (Salatan, 08:44)

Religious Exclusivity Alienates Regional Partners

• Hegseth makes a point of including Christian prayers “in the name of Jesus Christ” during briefings, disregarding the fact that most U.S. coalition partners in the region are Muslim or Jewish.
  • “May Almighty God continue to bless our troops in this fight... In the name of Jesus Christ.” (Hegseth, 09:37; repeated 10:30)
  • Salatan: “If all of your allies in the region... are Muslim or Jewish, what is the dumbest thing you could say as the American Secretary of War?” (Salatan, 09:56)

Antagonism Toward the Media

• Consistently attacks the media as “fake news” and personally targets CNN:

  • “This is what the fake news misses... Or more fake news from cnn. The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.” (Hegseth, 11:13)

• Blames the press for being "anti-Trump":

  • “A dishonest and anti Trump press will stop at nothing... Sadly, TDS is in their DNA.” (Hegseth, 11:54)

• Self-congratulates on crafting punchlines:

  • “My 13 year old son popped into my office last night while I was editing these remarks.” (Hegseth, 12:28)

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• On dividing America:

  • "Every time this guy talks, every time he goes after American presidents, he... He's dividing our own country."
    (Salatan, 05:17)

• On priorities as Secretary of War:

  • “Your job is to win an actual war. So you should be trying to avoid, or at least play down any domestic political differences. Instead, Hegseth is escalating.” (Salatan, 05:44)

• On attitudes toward allies and enemies:

  • “It's almost like Pete Hegseth is more respectful of Iran and Iran's allies than America's allies.” (Salatan, 08:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:30 | Introduction of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of War | | 01:29 | Hegseth’s first war briefing; attacks on Obama | | 02:21 | Hegseth’s praise for Trump, criticism of Biden | | 03:22 | Attacks on Bush/Republicans; “Operation Epic Fury” | | 04:29-05:03| Continued partisan shots at Bush, Obama, Biden | | 05:39 | Attack on House Dem leader Hakeem Jeffries | | 06:34 | Put-downs of European allies | | 07:10 | “Ungrateful allies in Europe” | | 08:09 | Mocking the UK’s Royal Navy | | 08:37 | Refusal to criticize Russia and China | | 09:37,10:30| Sectarian prayers for troops in Jesus' name | | 11:13 | Rants against CNN and calls for pro-Trump ownership | | 11:54 | Blames “TDS” (Trump Derangement Syndrome) in media | | 12:28 | Bragging about scripting zingers |

Summary & Tone

The episode is unsparing and sarcastic, reflecting Will Salatan’s exasperation with Hegseth’s behavior. Salatan’s tone is incredulous and biting, emphasizing the absurdity of the Secretary of War’s relentless focus on division—within America, against America’s allies, and even within the administration’s own party. The message is clear: instead of building coalitions and focusing on strategic goals in a time of war, Hegseth is more invested in political point-scoring and performative partisanship. The episode ultimately asks whether such conduct makes Hegseth "the dumbest man in the Trump administration"—a point delivered with both serious concern and caustic wit.