Secretary of War · Republican
Pete Hegseth
The Venezuela operation succeeded on his watch, and he deserves a share of the credit for it. Everything else has fallen short. He shared detailed strike plans in a Signal chat that included a journalist, purged senior officers with little explanation, and has led the war with Iran, which has weakened America's standing, cost American lives and money, and served no American interest. Toughness on camera is not the same as competence in command.
Preliminary grade, based on the public record to date.
OverallC-GPA 1.71
The grades
- SovereigntyDid they put American interests first and keep decisions in American hands?C+
- HemisphereDid they guard the Americas against rival powers and threats?A-
- No entangling warsDid they keep the country out of wars that weakened it and served no American interest?F
- StatecraftDid they use diplomacy, force and alliances skillfully, on American terms?D
- Industry and tradeDid they protect and build American industry?C
- Working AmericansDid ordinary working families do better because of them?C-
- BuildingDid they build things that lasted and push the frontier forward?C
- NationDid they strengthen a shared American identity and the Union?B-
- CompetenceWere they capable and effective in office?D-
- IntegrityDid they govern honestly, free of corruption and of capture by donors or foreign interests, and do what they said?D
On the axes
MarketEconomyPopulist
Free tradeTradeProtectionist
RestraintForeign policyInterventionist
CosmopolitanNationNational
Dark dot: Pete Hegseth. Red mark: the Monroe Society. Ideological closeness to the Society: 65%.