Debunking the Hegseth Hogwash

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show – "Debunking the Hegseth Hogwash"

Episode Details:

• Title: Debunking the Hegseth Hogwash
• Host: Charlie Kirk
• Guest: Sean Parnell
• Release Date: December 4, 2024

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Introduction

In the December 4, 2024 episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, host Charlie Kirk delves into the contentious status of Pete Hegseth's nomination for Secretary of Defense. Joined by Sean Parnell, Kirk explores the alleged media smear campaign aimed at undermining Hegseth and examines the broader implications for President Trump's administration and the Republican Party.

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Pete Hegseth's Nomination Under Fire

[01:28] Charlie Kirk:
Charlie Kirk opens the discussion by presenting Pete Hegseth as a commendable candidate who has honorably served his country. He asserts that Hegseth is currently the target of a "media smear job" aimed at discrediting his character and derailing his nomination for Secretary of Defense.

Key Points:

• Military Experience: Kirk emphasizes Hegseth's frontline experience, contrasting it with the traditional expectation of military leaders being hardened by actual combat, referencing George Washington as a historical example.
• Media Opposition: He accuses the media of acting as the "fourth estate" with intentions to thwart Hegseth's nomination, suggesting a bias against Trump's picks.

Notable Quote:
"Pete Hegseth has honorably served his country... the media is doing their best to try and be the fourth estate to try to remove him as Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense."
— Charlie Kirk [01:28]

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Support from Republican Leaders

[00:30 - 00:54] Sean Parnell and Penelope Hegseth:
The episode features endorsements from Republican figures like Coach Tuberville and Penelope Hegseth, Pete's mother, who lauds Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA for their efforts in mobilizing youth and supporting conservative causes.

Key Points:

• Endorsements Highlighting Hegseth’s Qualities: Praise focuses on Hegseth's dedication, intelligence, and patriotism, reinforcing his suitability for the Defense Secretary role.

Notable Quote:
"Pete Hegseth is a great man... he's done an amazing job building one of the most powerful youth organizations ever created, Turning Point USA."
— Penelope Hegseth [00:40]

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Media Smear Campaign Against Hegseth

[01:03 - 06:45] Charlie Kirk on Media Tactics:
Kirk discusses the media's attempt to tarnish Hegseth's reputation, citing unfounded accusations and personal attacks. He underscores that some Republican senators may be influenced by neoconservative agendas, pushing for continued foreign interventions contrary to Trump's policies.

Key Points:

• Accusations and Counterarguments: Kirk addresses the lack of substantial evidence behind the allegations against Hegseth, highlighting statements from Hegseth's mother on mainstream networks defending him.
• Political Motives: He suggests that opposition stems from senators' alignment with the "deep state" and neoconservative ideologies that conflict with Trump's "America First" agenda.

Notable Quotes:
"The media is doing their best to try and be the fourth estate to try to remove him as Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense."
— Charlie Kirk [01:28]

"What is this like personally? I mean, you're not sleeping. Your phone is lighting up all the time..."
— Sean Parnell [26:20]

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Sean Parnell’s Defense of Hegseth

[17:38 - 34:16] Sean Parnell's Testimony:
Sean Parnell, a seasoned veteran and ally of Hegseth, provides a robust defense against the accusations. He shares personal anecdotes to dismantle the credibility of the smear campaign, emphasizing the false nature of the allegations and the personal toll they take on individuals and their families.

Key Points:

• Personal Connection: Parnell highlights his long-standing relationship with Hegseth and assures listeners of Hegseth's integrity and qualifications.
• Impact on Families: He discusses the collateral damage inflicted upon families, stressing that false accusations ripple beyond the individual to affect loved ones deeply.
• Call to Action for Senators: Parnell urges Republican senators to stand up for Hegseth, calling out the anonymous and unfounded nature of the attacks.

Notable Quotes:
"The allegations are completely false. He's a great man, he's a good leader, he's a reform-minded leader."
— Sean Parnell [18:07]

"These smears are not just smears on Pete, but everybody that worked as part of Concerned Veterans for America..."
— Sean Parnell [20:18]

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Senatorial Opposition and Neocon Influence

[03:45 - 25:32] Analysis of Senate Republicans:
Kirk and Parnell analyze the opposition from certain Senate Republicans, labeling them as neocons who prioritize the military-industrial complex and foreign intervention over the will of the American electorate. They argue that these senators undermine Trump's nomination to protect their own political and ideological interests.

Key Points:

• Senatorial Alignments: Identification of senators from states like Idaho, South Dakota, and Kansas as pivotal opponents influenced by neoconservative agendas.
• Strategic Blockades: Discussion on how these senators, often from deep-red states, manipulate their positions to align with entrenched foreign policy interests rather than constituents' desires.
• Impact on Future Nominations: Concerns are raised about the broader implications for future Trump nominees and the Republican Party's cohesion.

Notable Quotes:
"These Republican senators who are evaluating whether or not to confirm Pete Hegseth... this is what the American people voted for."
— Sean Parnell [22:54]

"This is a red line, everybody. This is exactly why we are doing the project give Trump his cabinet."
— Charlie Kirk [11:14]

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Impact of Media Smears on Personal Lives

[25:32 - 28:11] Personal Toll of Smear Campaigns:
Parnell shares the emotional and psychological strain that media attacks impose on individuals and their families. He recounts his own experiences with false allegations and the necessity of defending not just oneself but also supporting allies like Hegseth.

Key Points:

• Family Impact: Emphasis on how smear campaigns affect not just the nominees but also their families, particularly children who are unintentionally exposed to the negativity.
• Emotional Strain: The relentless nature of the attacks leads to significant personal stress and challenges in maintaining personal and professional relationships.

Notable Quotes:
"This deeply affects, you know, people's family. And I know for a fact that as strong as Pete is and as strong as his wife is, you've got little kids and they are watching everything that happens."
— Sean Parnell [27:07]

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America First Foreign Policy

[29:40 - 33:02] Defining America First:
Kirk and Parnell discuss the core principles of an "America First" foreign policy, contrasting it with neoconservative approaches that emphasize prolonged military engagements and nation-building. Parnell shares his military experiences to advocate for a policy that prioritizes national interests and minimizes unnecessary conflicts.

Key Points:

• Practical Military Experience: Parnell draws from his 485-day deployment in Afghanistan, underscoring the human and financial costs of extended military operations.
• Policy Recommendations: Advocacy for limiting foreign interventions, focusing on protecting American interests, and avoiding entanglements that do not directly benefit national security.
• Critique of Current Policies: Criticism of ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine as examples of failed nation-building efforts that drain resources and lives.

Notable Quotes:
"I have been reminded what an America first foreign policy means exactly that. It means putting the interests of Americans actually first."
— Sean Parnell [29:40]

"We are done nation building. We are done subsidizing the government of Ukraine."
— Sean Parnell [32:32]

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Future of the Republican Party

[32:32 - 33:52] Evolution Towards America First:
The conversation shifts to the transformation of the Republican Party under Trump's leadership. Parnell emphasizes the need for the party to align more closely with America First principles, advocating for the election of candidates who prioritize national interests over globalist agendas.

Key Points:

• Trump’s Influence: Recognition of Trump's role in reshaping the party towards a more nationalist and conservative stance.
• Strategic Focus: Calling for the nomination and support of candidates who embody the America First ethos to ensure the party remains true to its base.
• Long-Term Vision: Consideration of the party's direction post-Trump era, highlighting the importance of maintaining the momentum built during his presidency.

Notable Quotes:
"This is President Trump's Republican Party. This is an America first party. This is exactly where the base is."
— Sean Parnell [33:02]

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Conclusion and Call to Action

In the closing segments, Charlie Kirk reiterates the importance of supporting Pete Hegseth and combating the unfounded smear campaigns. He encourages listeners to engage with Turning Point USA's initiatives and participate in upcoming rallies and events to defend Trump's nominees and promote an America First agenda.

Key Points:

• Support for Hegseth: Emphasis on the necessity of backing qualified and patriotic candidates against unjust opposition.
• Engagement with Conservative Movements: Invitation for listeners to join efforts in shaping the Republican Party and ensuring its alignment with core conservative values.

Notable Quote:
"This is a red line, everybody. This is exactly why we are doing the project give Trump his cabinet."
— Charlie Kirk [11:14]

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Final Remarks

The episode concludes with additional endorsements for initiatives supporting veterans and promoting conservative values. Charlie Kirk underscores the critical nature of the moment for the Republican Party and the broader fight against what he perceives as leftist agendas undermining America's future.

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Overall Insights:

• Media Bias and Political Intrigue: The episode paints a picture of a media and political establishment resistant to change, actively working to maintain the status quo.
• Personal Stakes in Political Battles: Both hosts highlight the personal ramifications of political struggles, emphasizing the human cost beyond mere political maneuvering.
• Strategic Republicanism: There's a clear focus on revamping the Republican Party to better reflect Trump’s America First policies, aiming for a more unified and effective conservative movement.

Conclusion:
"Debunking the Hegseth Hogwash" serves as a fervent defense of Pete Hegseth and a critique of the current Republican establishment's resistance to Trump's nominations. Through personal anecdotes and strategic analysis, Charlie Kirk and Sean Parnell advocate for a more unified and America-centric conservative movement, urging listeners to actively participate in shaping the party's future.

Transcript

[Charlie Kirk]

Hey, everybody. Today in the Charlie Kirk show, the status of Pete Hegseth and the open secret of why certain senators support him and other senators are undermining President Trump. Sean Parnell joins us to discuss. Email us as always, freedomarlykirk.com and subscribe to our podcast. Open up your podcast application and type in Charlie Kirk show and come to America Fest today. That is AmericaFest.com AmFest.com AmFest.com that is AmFest.com Buckle up, everybody. Here we go.

[Sean Parnell]

Charlie, what you've done is incredible here. Maybe Charlie Kirk is on the college campus.

[Coach Tuberville]

I want you to know we are.

[Sean Parnell]

Lucky to have Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk's running the White House, folks.

[Penelope Hegseth]

I want to thank Charlie. He's an incredible guy. His spirit, his love of this country. He's done an amazing job building one of the most powerful youth organizations ever created, Turning Point usa.

[Charlie Kirk]

We will not embrace the ideas that have destroyed countries, destroyed lives, and we are going to fight for freedom on campuses across the country. That's why we are here.

[Dr. Ashley Lucas]

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[Charlie Kirk]

I want to begin today talking. We're going to go through a lot of topics here. Pete Hegseth. Pete Hegseth is a great man. Pete Hegseth has honorably served his country. And Pete Hegseth right now is victim to a media smear job to try to destroy his character and try to remove him from the nomination for Secretary of defense. Now, some people say, but Charlie, he doesn't have the experience, you know, running a big organization. Hold on a second. He's actually served in the front lines of the department that he is going to have to run. You see, we used to have a tradition in this country where the people who were in charge of our military were also involved in the front lines of combat. George Washington famously would march to the front lines against the British and would be shot at, would not be moved. Our leaders used to be hardened by actual conflict. Pete Hegseth has served his country with incredible bravery and courage. This is nothing compared to what he had to face on the front lines fighting for America. However, the media is doing their best to try and be the fourth estate to try to remove him as Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of defense. So let's begin here. Let's first talk about the positive. This is Coach Tuberville praising Pete Hegseth. And we've talked about this quite some time on this program. These Republican senators need to stand up and be counted. And if you are going to oppose Pete Hegseth, then we want to know your names and your states because we'll be visiting a neighborhood near you. If you're from Arkansas, if you're from Kansas, if you're from South Dakota, if you're from Idaho and you're against Pete Hegseth, you're going to have to defend that to your voters. You see, the American people did not vote for old bull Senate Republicans to get in the way of President Trump's mandate. Let's begin here with Coach Tuberville praising Pete Hegsett. There is a major battle happening right now on Capitol Hill. A extraordinary drama where they're doing everything they can, where deep state Senate Republicans are doing everything they can to to undermine President Trump and try to kill Pete Hegseth from being Secretary of defense. Play cut 43.

[Coach Tuberville]

Pete is a patriot. He understands the military 20 years, but he's done other stuff, too. He's been in business. He's well educated, well spoken. But what I like about him, Larry, is he's the age. He's going in running our military. And we need somebody the age, close to the age of a lot of these war fighters that we have. They can relate. This is a different military. This is a different time, this is a different era. And we need to build our military back because we have really degraded our military over the years because of the woke, the dei, the critical race theory. All these things are being pushed at all of our war fighters and they're getting out right and left. We've got to build it back. And Pete's the guy to do it, Larry.

[Charlie Kirk]

Pete is the guy to do that. Now understand that our military has become so broken it is no longer the finest fighting force on the planet. We commonly play that piece of tape of how sailors of the US Military were bragging the best part of their deployment was gay poem reading hour on these U.S. battleships. But there are forces in the U.S. senate, some of whom want to become Secretary of Defense themselves, by the way, who are trying to undermine and stop. Pete Hegseth understand this first and foremost. Pete Hegseth embraces America first foreign policy better than anybody else. He understands that we need the fightest fighting force on the planet. He understands that we should not have endless adventurous nation Building foreign conflicts or wars. Pete Hegseth is not a neocon. Pete Hegseth is not one of the warmongers of days past. Let's play cut 66. Pete Hegseth talking about the status of his nomination. Play cut 66. Have you had any conversations with the president elect?

[Sean Parnell]

I spoke to the president elect this morning. He said, keep going, keep fighting behind.

[Charlie Kirk]

You all the way.

[Sean Parnell]

You're in this all the way. Why would I back down? I've always been a fighter.

[Charlie Kirk]

I'm here for the more fighters.

[Sean Parnell]

It's personal compassion for me. Be not withdrawing your name from consideration.

[Charlie Kirk]

Just to be meeting all day with senators. Understand what is happening here is that you have this praetorian guard of the US Senate that is trying to stop the will of the American people. Now, this all started with the neocons of the Senate being a little nervous that Pete Hegseth philosophically might not agree with their warmongering agenda. Might ask questions, why are we sending hundreds of billions of dollars to Ukraine? Why are we not putting our country first? Now they're veiling this by saying, oh, it's all about these very serious accusations against Pete Hegseth. All about, back it up. Back. What serious accusations are there now? One of them, they're saying, well, Pete Hegseth's own mom came out against him. Well, that's not true. This is Pete Hegseth's mother on Fox News, Penelope Hegseth defending her son. Was this on the mainstream networks? Play cut 77. What's one thing about Pete people don't.

[Unknown]

Realize that he's got a big heart, that he's very smart. He's the most. He is the most faithful patriot of this country. He loves his country. Loves his country. He's fought and almost died for his country. He's. He's a good dad. He's an amazing son and father. And that's the. That's the Pete I want people to know.

[Charlie Kirk]

Here's what we must understand is that when Matt Gaetz dropped out, the enemies of our America first agenda thought they could pick off Trump's cabinet one by one using old Washington smear tactics. If Pete Hegseth becomes the latest pick to get knifed in the back, Bobby Kennedy be next, then Tulsi Gabbard, then Cash. We must not allow them to get away with this. This is a red line. Pete Hegseth is a red line. And I am tired of hearing all these anonymous senators. Okay, is it Jim Crapo or Mike crapo? Is it Mr. Risch? In Idaho? Is it Mike Rounds? Is it Joni Ernst? Is it Bozeman or whatever his name is from Arkansas? You never hear from these people unless they want to vote no on Trump's nominees or vote yes on Ukrainian money. These guys, you never hear from them at all. Is it Shelley Moore, Capito in Mississippi, I mean West Virginia? Is it Cindy Hyde Smith in Mississippi? Stand up and be counted. Tell us, who are you exactly? Who do you represent? Or are we going to allow this kind of just anonymous cabal of Senate Republicans say no, no, no, no. We, we know better than the voters. Donald Trump got elected to get people and change makers in the Pentagon like Pete Hegseth. Do you remember Mark Milley bragging about how he would back channel against Donald Trump with China? That he would not fulfill the orders of Donald Trump and back back channel against the needs, wants and interest of the sovereign, the President, United States? Who's a representative of the American people? Mr. White Rage? How about Esper or Mad Dog Mattis? Every single one of those people that were running the Pentagon were working against President Trump's agenda and the will of the American people. So you really have to think, who's in charge of this government that is coming in? Is it an unelected bureaucracy and old octogenarian Senate Republicans that want to keep on fighting Russia for no reason whatsoever? Or is it the people that voted for less war? The people voted for less war to yes, crush our enemies, to yes, use lethality against those that dare threaten us. But we are done nation building. We are done subsidizing the government of Ukraine. Tucker Carlson right now is in Russia trying to figure out how close are we actually to nuclear war. This is a red line everybody. If you're from Idaho, you better call your senators from Mississippi. Call Cindy Hyde Smith if you're from West Virginia. President Trump won on a referendum of less war. And now Senate Republicans say who cares? Are you ready to lose weight but.

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[Charlie Kirk]

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[Charlie Kirk]

This is a red line, everybody. This is exactly why we are doing the project give Trump his cabinet. And right now, actually, I was just texting in the break the states that we're going to go visit, we are going to be at a state near you and maybe in a neighborhood near you. We very well might be doing a rally in Boise. What is it about? Can I just talk about the great state of Idaho really quick? I've met one of the guys there, nice enough guy, Rish or Crapo. I get him confused. What is it about the beautiful state of Idaho? Idaho is this freedom loving state that yes, has some liberal nonsense that is coming in Boise. I was there recently feeling more and more like Berkeley. However, the excerpts of Boise and the rest of the state, I mean, it is as red as Alabama. But this is a problem that we need to fix and that I think Turning point action and the Charlie Kirk show and you guys can help fix together. It is a major problem that in very red states, people that run for office as Republicans just want power. And they're not conservatives, but they're still just people who want power. And I think this is something that turning point action can help fix with. Obviously all of you in this, this, this audience, look, it's a different ballgame if you're running in Arizona, if you're running in Georgia, if you're running in North Carolina, if you're running in Maine, I get it. If you're Susan Collins and you run in Maine, I hold you to a much lower standard. I've been very consistent about this throughout the years. Andrew would tell you I've never attacked Susan Collins. Vote your state, vote your constituents. Susan Collins is there for us with Kavanaugh. She does some incredibly frustrating stuff. But Idaho, why is it that people from Idaho that are senators vote like they're from Maine? That is inexplicable. If you're a Republican in a more competitive state, you should be more conservative. And so just talking about Idaho here, I don't know how they stand on Pete Hegseth, but they're both neocons, Crapo and Risch. I don't know how they stand on Bobby Kennedy or Tulsi Gabbard, but why are they both not out leading the charge saying that we are for Pete Hegseth. Coach Tuberville is Marsha Blackburn is. This is very similar to the lessons that I learned, Andrew learned, Blake learned, and our team learned with what we did with Nebraska and Winner Take All. Sometimes the most maddening, difficult to navigate states in the country are the reddest states. They're the most corrupt, the least likely to actually embrace positive change. We saw this up close and personally with all the time we spent in Nebraska. And you kind of go around the horn here. You say, wait a second, these are senators that are not necessarily from battleground states. But understand that there is a formula here, and that's why James Lankford is exhibit A for what's Wrong in Washington D.C. formula is this the young guns are going to come out in favor of Pete Hegseth, especially if they are in cycle. This is the. This is the buried secret of the U.S. senate. You guys ready for this? No one else is saying this publicly. So what they'll do is they will vote trade. If you are in a competitive state in cycle, those people are much more likely to come out and support President Trump's nominees like Tom Tillis. Why is Tom Tillis from North Carolina willing to support Trump's nominees enthusiastically? Because he's afraid of being primaried. Why is it that the people who are most likely to oppose Donald Trump's nominees all are people that are not up for election until 2028 and 2030? It's a very easy answer. It's because they're disconnected and they are distant from potential elections and the will of the people. And so what they do is anybody that might be afraid of a primary threat, like Tom Tillis, anybody that might be afraid of a primary threat like Mike Rounds, anyone that might be afraid of a primary threat in cycle will grow artificially closer to President Trump and his nominees. And then the old bulls who are not in cycle from very, very red states will take the hits for them because they think people forget and they think that times change and they do not want to be on the wrong side of Donald Trump in a 2026 primary. And you count, you just do the math. It becomes very obvious. So what you have is this ossified seven or eight immovable Senate Republican block that is against the President's agenda. And they're like, well, what are you going to do about it? Like for example, we don't know where Senator Curtis from Utah stands. We don't know. Donald Trump embraced his opponent. He's very much like Mitt Romney. Probably not going to be on board. But imagine, I want you to imagine this, everybody. And this is why turning point action in the work we're doing is so important for the long term of changing the Republican Party for the better. Imagine if we won the presidency and we can't get our people because of Senate Republicans. Hey everybody, Charlie Kirk here.

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[Charlie Kirk]

Joining us now is Sean Parnell to discuss Pete Hegseth and more. Sean, you've also served our country honorably and courageously. I'm gonna kind of go on a limb here and just say going back, you've been victim of media smears against yourself while you were trying to seek a very important. I don't wanna relitigate that for the audience cause it was a very nasty thing. We had your back and we still do. But can you kind of just give the audience the playbook that is being run against Pete Hegseth right now.

[Sean Parnell]

Absolutely. And you're absolutely right, this is very personal to me for a couple of reasons. One, because I've known Pete for over a decade. I know his wife, I know his family, I know his parents. He's an extraordinary man with an extraordinary family. And the smears against him, these are deliberate false smears, are absolutely sickening. And it's personal to me for the second reason, because I've been through this and I've been on the receiving end of false attacks elevated by the media for the express, sole purpose of destroying you. And these allegations are very sinister because they, they're intended to make Republicans, especially Republican senators, Republican elected officials. But in this case, senators say, well, boy, these allegations are pretty bad. I can't possibly defend this because my voters won't like that. But here's the thing. The allegations are completely false. And if we acknowledge that these accusations are horrifying to chill any sort of support from one's allies, then the opposite, our tactic must be the opposite. And that is to speak out vocally against it. I know what it's like to have to go through this stuff. It's horrible. And so when I saw Pete going through it. And by the way, Charlie, if you are a Trump person, if you are a loyal Trump person and you are a conservative, that is a danger to the radical left's agenda. And a conservative who fights this is the treatment that you get all the time. And it absolutely has to stop. And so that's why I spoke up for Pete immediately. Because when the left and these anonymous sources come at us with these baseless, horrifying allegations, the only, the only thing that we're left to do is speak out on behalf of the people that we care about. And Pete is one of those people. And I am telling you right here, right now, on this show, in front of God and everybody, that the allegations against this guy are completely false. He's a great man, he's a good leader, he's a reform minded leader. He's somebody that is a threat to the defense industrial complex. And because he's a threat, he's having to endure these horrifying attacks. And it stops today. It makes me sick.

[Charlie Kirk]

So somebody recently was texting me, hey, Charlie, do you think Pete can survive all of the accusations? And I said, well, tell me what they are. And no one can really articulate them, Sean, because it's kind of just noise. Do you know what I mean? This is kind of like general noise. What even are the accusations, Sean?

[Sean Parnell]

He drinks I mean, he drank a lot one time, you know, 10 years ago when he was in his late 20s, early.

[Charlie Kirk]

No one in the military drinks, so that's disqualified.

[Sean Parnell]

And that's another thing. You know, I was at Concerned Veterans for America at the same time all of these alleged. All of these alleged events took place. And I'm telling you that they didn't. I was there. Now, the reason why, you know, another reason why this is deeply personal to me is because these smears are not only against Pete. Charlie. There are veterans, both men and women, who joined Concerned Veterans for America, who wanted to make a difference in our country and help the veteran community. These smears are not just smears on Pete, but everybody that worked as part of Concerned Veterans for America, and we did that organization. I'm very proud of the work that we did because ultimately it led to President Trump in 2018 signing the mission act, which gave a veterans choice with regards to where they got their healthcare and is largely regarded as the most substantive VA reform in multiple generations. We got that accomplished. And to attack the organization, which is essentially, if you come. You come away from that New Yorker piece thinking that CVA was just a slush fund for drunk veterans, nothing could be further from the truth. It was a substantive policy organization that moved the ball down the field and made life better for veterans. We were very effective. And so to smear Pete is to smear the rest of the people and service members as they're part of cva. That did great, extraordinary work. And I'm not allowed. I'm not going to allow that to happen.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah, I just, again, I do this for a living. I can't even keep up with the nonsense that they're throwing at Pete. And honestly, just. I'm just so, like, I just don't care. I know him. He's been so good to me. He's such a generous, sincere, patriotic person. I'm going to the mat for him in any way I possibly can. So, Sean, help me understand this. Why is it that the states that are the most Trumpy, that are the most Republican and conservative, Idaho, South Dakota, Kansas, Mississippi. Why are they the ones that are seemingly the most hesitant about giving Trump his Cabinet?

[Sean Parnell]

You know, Charlie, this is a question that I ask myself often. You know, we have very moderate senators from deep red states. It's those senators who are. Who represent deep red states that we need to be the strongest conservatives. But unfortunately, as so often happens, that is just not the case. And I don't know what it is, Charlie. I don't know if it's just that they have their own interests. I mean, you know, I've heard whispers of, you know, other senators have interests in the military industrial complex threat. Pete Hegseth is a threat to those interests. And because those senators have ties to those organizations, they don't want Pete because they want those organizations to be intact. Other senators, you know, probably wanted to be Secretary of Defense themselves. So maybe that's why they oppose. There are any number of political reasons why a senator might oppose Pete Hegseth, but I don't think that they should. He's, he's a good man. He's eminently qualified. He's reform minded. He's exactly what the war fighters need and exactly what the war fighters want, by the way. And I'm, I'm telling you, I cannot. Charlie, I have heard from so many boots on the ground members of our military. Doesn't matter what service, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force. The war fighters want Pete Hegseth. But this big psyop, this big information op, this, all of these character smears, it is for those 50 plus Republican senators inside the Beltway and not for the rest of us. So if you're Pete Hegseth, you gotta know, and I want him to know that the American people, the people who elected Trump, President Elect Trump, and you know, an electoral college victory and an historic popular vote victory, you know, those people expect change. And President Trump was elected with a mandate to deliver that change. And Pete Hegseth represents that change. So Republican senators who are evaluating whether or not to confirm Pete Hegseth. I mean, to me there's no evaluation necessary. This is what the American people voted for. But I would respectfully ask them to just have a conversation with Pete. You will see very quickly that he's imminently qualified for the job. You know, don't listen to all these personal slanderous, you know, false smears. Evaluate whether or not Pete is qualified for the job. And if you have an honest conversation with the guy, you will realize very quickly that he is.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah. And so I just. The Senate Republicans, for their own reasons and ones that are not totally disclosed, seem to not actually respond to voters but to special interests or their own very weird private ideology. And they seem insistent on thwarting the president's agenda and just not even ignoring, but just kind of casting aside what would be a great team of change makers. And so Pete right now needs to navigate this thicket as going through this. Sean can similar things. What is this like personally? I mean, you're not sleeping. Your phone is lighting up all the time. Can you just give us a little bit of detail of what it's like to be on the receiving end of a nonstop media propaganda blitzkrieg?

[Sean Parnell]

Thank you for asking that question. Because attacks like this affect more than just the person who is on the receiving end of them. You know, I can tell you with certainty that, you know, I have five children. This affected them in a very deep and profound way. You know, they weren't on the ballot, but they sure as heck knew exactly what was going on. They were exposed to false things that they should have never been exposed to. My family, extended family, my friends, they were all dragged into this all, you know, because of false media smears. You know, and in this case, we're talking about a Pennsylvania Senate race back in 2022. Don't want to go too deep into that. But the point is, no need.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah.

[Sean Parnell]

This deeply affects, you know, people's family. And I know for a fact that as strong as Pete is and as strong as his wife is, you know, he's got little kids and they are watching everything that happens. And I'm telling you, my friend, they don't deserve that. And what's happening to Pete right now, his children, who are all young, will remember it for the rest of their lives. So this, to me is yet another rallying cry for Republican senators. Don't run from this fight. Lean into it. It's not just about confirming Pete, but it's about rally. It's about circling our wagons around someone who is well qualified and saying to the media and their allies on Capitol Hill, will the Democrats in Congress that, no, this is a line that you're not going to cross. We're not going to allow you to destroy this man and his family. We're not going to allow his family to become collateral damage for a political agenda. Dig in, fight back. That's what the American people expect of you.

[Charlie Kirk]

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[Sean Parnell]

Well, yeah, first of all, I completely agree. Listen, Charlie, I was in Afghanistan for 485 days in 2006-2007. My platoon took an 85% casualty rate. Some of my men were wounded twice. One guy was wounded three times. I was wounded myself. This was the longest combat deployment in global war on terror history I have seen. And first of all, I fought the enemies of this country up close and personal. We killed over 350 enemy fighters, didn't hurt a single civilian in the process. I've been on the receiving end of enemy fire. I know the cost of war. And when I came home, I was the rear detachment commander for my unit as a, as a captain and was responsible for knocking on the doors to families of the fallen. It was the hardest job that I've ever had. We were in Afghanistan for over 20 years. I'm 43 years old, so about half of my life we were fighting in Afghanistan. And what do we have to show for that war? All that blood, all that treasure, all the sacrifices wasted in Afghanistan because politicians, Joe Biden and his administration decided to surrender there in the most embarrassing way possible. And you look at Afghanistan, Iraq is no different. We left Iraq, we created a void, ISIS filled that void. They rampaged across the Middle east, leaving bodies in their wake in every country along the way. What do we have to show for that? Trillions of dollars spent. Thousands of Americans dead, tens of thousands Wounded. Hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from the invisible wounds of war. A million Iraqis dead because of that conflict. And now the very same people, both Democrats and Republicans, have got us into a quagmire in Ukraine that will likely end the same exact way unless bold, a bold reform strategy is taken when Donald Trump gets in office in January. But I am an America first foreign policy means exactly that. It means putting this country first. It means, yes, we understand that war is sometimes necessary. And by the way, if America or our interests are ever threatened, I will be the first in line to fight for this country. But we should not be sending America's sons and daughters frivolously into the fight. In fact, that should be a last ditch effort in pursuit of peace. Like, I'm almost anti war in almost every way because of my experiences in war. And so for me, an America first foreign policy means putting the interests of Americans actually first at first. Maybe protecting our border instead of spending hundreds of billions in Ukraine for them to spend to protect theirs.

[Charlie Kirk]

I love that. And Sean, in closing here, with so many threats that are emerging, the essence of so much of our foreign policy is do you care more about the prosperity of the American people or some sort of foreign abstract, Very hard to pin down talking point. Final question, one minute remaining. Sean, do you think the Republican Party is changing for the better in this regard?

[Sean Parnell]

Understanding that I think Trump and Trump allies are. I am not sure the Republican Party is there yet, although I will also say this. This is President Trump's Republican Party. This is an America first party. This is exactly where the base is. And I think moving forward, the major question that most of us should have is like, look, best case scenario, now we've got, we got four years of President Trump, who I think was the best president of my lifetime. What then? And so I think our focus, and I know it's your focus as well, to get as many great America first candidates in office as humanly possible to rectify this problem. But far too many Republicans say we gotta fight terrorists there. We gotta, we gotta fight them there to keep them from here. That is lazy. Those are lazy stock platitudes that have done nothing but get us into one foreign policy disaster after the next.

[Charlie Kirk]

I'm so glad you said that. And by the way, whenever you ask them, well, what does that mean? It just, it's one platitude. Like, I don't even like, it's just that, that doesn't make any sense. Okay, Sean, thank you so much. Plug your program. 20 seconds here Sean, Plug whatever you want, yeah?

[Sean Parnell]

I'm on Battleground Live. It airs Monday through Friday at 5pm on Rumble. Go follow me there. I'm also on Twitter at Sean Parnell usa. But as always, Charlie, thank you for having me and giving me this platform.

[Charlie Kirk]

You're the best, Sean. Talk to you soon. Thank you. Thanks so much for listening, everybody. Email us, as always, [e-mail] thanks so much for listening and God bless.

[Penelope Hegseth]

For more on many of these stories.

[Sean Parnell]

And news you can Trust, go to charliekirk.com.