Hegseth Laughs at Fitness Fiasco During Military Workout

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mocked after lagging behind troops during San Diego workout. Viral clips spark bipartisan backlash.

Editorial Desk

October 8, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced widespread online ridicule after appearing to struggle during a military fitness event in San Diego.

The 46-year-old former Fox News personality joined Marines for a morning workout on the same day he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln following its extended deployment to the Middle East. Footage from the exercise showed service members sprinting ahead while Hegseth trailed behind, visibly out of breath.

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During the event, Hegseth was seen high-fiving fellow participants after completing pull-ups, while others moved on to their next training station. The incident drew sharp criticism from late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who joked about Hegseth’s appearance and the prolonged deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been involved in U.S. operations against Iran.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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