Pete Hegseth, the hard-charging Fox News firebrand turned Defense Secretary in the Trump 2.0 regime, has ignited a inferno of outrage with a directive that’s got the Pentagon pulsing with paranoia: “Hunt down every service member mocking or celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death – we’re tracking them all.” The September 12, 2025, order, blasted on X by the 45-year-old veteran (former Fox Weekend co-host, Army National Guard vet with Iraq and Afghanistan tours), demands staff scour socials for “heinous” posts under #RevolutionariesintheRanks, already flagging dozens – from an E-9 sergeant’s “racist homophobe” quip to a major’s “don’t give a s—” snark.
“Completely unacceptable,” Hegseth thundered, vowing “immediate accountability” via UCMJ probes, as eight troops (including a general’s son at FEMA) face suspension or sacking. “This isn’t speech – it’s sedition,” he snarled to NBC, tying it to Kirk’s September 10 assassination by Tyler Robinson at Utah Valley University. But the “bombshell accusation”? A far-right frenzy: Hegseth’s edict echoes Laura Loomer’s call to “fire” the major’s kin, targeting a “major political figure” – whispers point to Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), whose office allegedly “leaked” Kirk critiques to stoke the purge.
The “hunt’s” horror? Hypocritical: Hegseth’s “political correctness crusade,” per Politico, mirrors 2020’s Floyd fallout (troops disciplined for racist rants), but reversed – now left-leaning likes land in the crosshairs. “Dangerous and un-American,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), an Army Ranger, blasted on CNN, warning of “chilling effect” on free speech. Legal eagles like Dan Maurer (ex-Army prosecutor) to The Hill: “Benign banter becomes UCMJ violation – easy to frame.” At least 20 flagged (Air Force E-9s, Navy civilians), with Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine “monitoring closely,” per CBS. Hegseth’s history? Hypocritical heat: His 2017 book American Crusade railed against “woke warriors,” but 2020’s “Kill all Muslims” chant (alleged at a frat party) vanished from vetting. Trump’s Truth Social triumph: “Pete’s purging the poison – Kirk’s killers can’t celebrate!”
The “targeting” twist? Toxic: Loomer’s X barrage named Warner’s “deep state” ties, demanding Noem “fire” the FEMA son – a “major political figure” in the crosshairs, per Intercept leaks. “It’s a witch hunt for wokeness,” Sean Parnell, Pentagon spokesman, defended, but insiders whisper “dozens more” in the dragnet, echoing 2020’s Floyd firings but flipped. Socials? A supernova: #HegsethHunt hits 5.2 million posts—”Free speech funeral!” vs. “Accountability at last!” Nicki Minaj’s “Troops for truth” tweet tips scales, Megan Thee Stallion’s “Purge the purgers” emoji edges Em. The “exploding online”? Eternal: TikToks tally “UCMJ injustice” (200 million views), debates detonate “Hegseth’s Hitler?”
This isn’t directive drivel; it’s a doctrinal detonation, Hegseth’s “tracking” a testament to Trump’s “maximum lethality” mantra. The “bombshell”? A bipartisan backlash, Crow’s “un-American” a clarion call. September 12? Not an order—a outrage. The Pentagon? Purged or panicked? Fans demand: Dial it down, or double down? The hunt? Hounding history. The speech? Silenced? Not yet.
