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demmiblue

(38,765 posts)
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:28 PM Sep 12

Pete Hegseth tells Pentagon staff to hunt for negative Charlie Kirk posts by service members

Source: NBC News

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told his staff to identify any members of the military who have mocked or condoned the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk so that they can be punished, two defense officials told NBC News.

Several service members have been relieved from their jobs because of such posts, the officials said, adding that Hegseth’s directive also pertains to others associated with the Defense Department. It’s unclear exactly how many people have been disciplined.

Hegseth and other senior Pentagon leaders posted messages on X this week calling on the public to report any posts that could be interpreted as negative about Kirk or unsympathetic about his murder.

“We are tracking all these very closely — and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable,” Hegseth wrote on X Thursday.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/hegseth-pentagon-staff-negative-charlie-kirk-posts-service-members-rcna230915



“.. I can’t remember anyone ever telling me we can’t say anything critical about a civilian like this. He was not in our chain of command or anything,” the officer said.

@nbcnews.com
www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...

Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) 2025-09-12T23:12:42.416Z
33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pete Hegseth tells Pentagon staff to hunt for negative Charlie Kirk posts by service members (Original Post) demmiblue Sep 12 OP
They risk their lives to protect freedom of speech. Irish_Dem Sep 12 #1
Have another drink iron jaw. JFC what a goddamn weenie. Klarkashton Sep 12 #2
Weak chin wolfie001 Sep 12 #12
Doesn't stop him from doing that jaw clenching thing all Klarkashton Sep 12 #13
You piece of shit Hegseth if you're trying to piss me off more than anyone Eliot Rosewater Sep 12 #3
Why do those on the left kacekwl Sep 12 #4
Anyone remember when the US military swore to fight for Americans' freedoms? sinkingfeeling Sep 12 #5
First ammendment lawsuits. mwmisses4289 Sep 12 #6
Yep. Class action when possible, even! OldBaldy1701E Sep 13 #28
So if I was in the military, and innocently pointed out the resemblance between rsdsharp Sep 12 #7
Fragging Major Hegseth pfitz59 Sep 12 #8
This message was self-deleted by its author Random Person Sep 12 #9
Charlie KKKirk never served, unless you count the MAGA grifter force. Crowman2009 Sep 12 #10
Drunk POS nt wolfie001 Sep 12 #11
Not a good time to join the military in America Puppyjive Sep 12 #14
Hey Pete can I call you Pete does that include air force brats like my self............you idiot.............. turbinetree Sep 12 #15
Freedom of Speech Definition.....? damifino10 Sep 12 #16
The McCarthyite witch hunt is on. Martin68 Sep 12 #17
This is a freakshow administration kwolf68 Sep 12 #18
Penta-gone to Hell in a hand basket. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Sep 12 #19
You do not give up your freedom of speech Farmer-Rick Sep 12 #20
That's some made up bullshit to attack people with. Solly Mack Sep 12 #21
Not a service member, but I can send him my negative KPN Sep 12 #22
November 8, 2028 Can't Come Soon Enough eringer Sep 12 #23
The "free speech absolutists" at it again Prairie Gates Sep 13 #24
The Big Lie has become the Official Lie of the Trump administration thought crime Sep 13 #25
There are reports of school teachers and other workers markodochartaigh Sep 13 #26
This sounds like a purge to me. And also a tactic to scare people, disgusting. Dave Bowman Sep 13 #27
Pete's Nazi call to arms. mdbl Sep 13 #29
Let me guess, Americanme Sep 13 #30
ooooh. a good shirt idea! purr-rat beauty Sep 13 #31
Does this not include Laura Loomer? Doctoris Extincti Sep 13 #32
This means they're reading people's texts and emails? Bayard Sep 13 #33

Klarkashton

(4,125 posts)
13. Doesn't stop him from doing that jaw clenching thing all
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:51 PM
Sep 12

The time to look tough. He's just a weenie boy, a two bit actor.

Eliot Rosewater

(34,176 posts)
3. You piece of shit Hegseth if you're trying to piss me off more than anyone
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:34 PM
Sep 12

Last edited Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Ever has in history, you’re doing it.

Head of our military is saying this

kacekwl

(8,605 posts)
4. Why do those on the left
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:35 PM
Sep 12

always call us fascists and Nazis ? Has Pete heard of friendly fire.

mwmisses4289

(2,320 posts)
6. First ammendment lawsuits.
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:41 PM
Sep 12

Every person who has been fired or otherwise let go from their jobs simply for saying anything critical of charlie needs to sue the crap out of the organization. The time for us being nice is long gone.

OldBaldy1701E

(9,147 posts)
28. Yep. Class action when possible, even!
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 07:41 AM
Sep 13

In this country, there is only one thing that rules above all. You mess with that, it will get attention.

Sue the DOD and every other entity that pulls this crap. Don't stop and DON'T SETTLE. Sue them until they have nothing.

(This is assuming that they won't just cry to the orange gibbon and get him to declare martial law. Nothing will get that bloated thing moving faster than the thought that someone is about to take some of 'his' money.)

rsdsharp

(11,366 posts)
7. So if I was in the military, and innocently pointed out the resemblance between
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:42 PM
Sep 12

Charlie Kirk and Rudolf Hess I could be kicked out?

Response to demmiblue (Original post)

Crowman2009

(3,271 posts)
10. Charlie KKKirk never served, unless you count the MAGA grifter force.
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:01 PM
Sep 12

Never mind searching for terrorist threats. People have been saying mean things about Charlie!

Puppyjive

(849 posts)
14. Not a good time to join the military in America
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:05 PM
Sep 12

As a veteran, I would never recommend it at his time.

turbinetree

(26,600 posts)
15. Hey Pete can I call you Pete does that include air force brats like my self............you idiot..............
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:07 PM
Sep 12

you do realize that they do have a right under the 1st amendment to say things right...............you know that pesky thing called the Constitution that your right wing court is dismantling ..............

damifino10

(133 posts)
16. Freedom of Speech Definition.....?
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:11 PM
Sep 12

Kirk could say anything that he wanted, against anybody he wanted, and about anything he wanted, but don't you open your mouth or you will lose your job.
I am saying there is no such thing as freedom of speech any longer.

kwolf68

(8,142 posts)
18. This is a freakshow administration
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:41 PM
Sep 12

Just what we want the pentagon to be doing, surfing social media. Good grief.

Farmer-Rick

(12,080 posts)
20. You do not give up your freedom of speech
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:19 PM
Sep 12

When you join the military. But it is severely restricted.

Most times the courts have supported squashing a military member's freedom of speech if it interfered with good order and discipline. Like protesting outside a military base to stop military action when you are in the military. Or denigrating senior officers even the Commander in Chief.

Normally the military has to prove the freedom of speech in question directly interfered with good order and discipline. But how the hell are they going to prove that in the case of Kirk?

Kirk is no one at all in the chain of command. He was never involved with the military except to be turned down by West Point. If you hated Kirk or if you loved him it would make absolutely no difference to good order and discipline in the military.

But we all know the Nazis on the Supremes would do anything their master orders. So, if you get courts-martialled for hating Kirk, you would normally have a case of violation of your freedom of speech. But with the Nazis on the Supremes right now, there's no telling which way it will go.

markodochartaigh

(4,175 posts)
26. There are reports of school teachers and other workers
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 01:26 AM
Sep 13

also being warned, fired, and reprimanded over this. Now that our private data is being collated with our identities how long before "small government" Republican ai turns up everyone who has posted anti-maga comments?


https://www.wsmv.com/2025/09/11/nashville-fire-department-employee-placed-leave-over-alleged-post-about-charlie-kirks-death/

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-nashville-emergency-communications-employee-suspended/86109548007/

Americanme

(286 posts)
30. Let me guess,
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 08:09 AM
Sep 13

Nobody will be disciplined if they mock the killing of Melissa Hortman, the attack on Paul Pelosi, or the assassination of MLK?

purr-rat beauty

(785 posts)
31. ooooh. a good shirt idea!
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 08:38 AM
Sep 13

with this jag ass, felonious trump, and vacay vance on it

Alpha until Snowflake

seriously, this don't cross your eyes at me shit is GETTING OLD!

that's The Deep State and Big Gov't

32. Does this not include Laura Loomer?
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 09:51 AM
Sep 13
Trump ally Laura Loomer ridiculed for swinging from Charlie Kirk attacks to leading backlash against detractors
...the far-right influencer Laura Loomer was confronted with a social media post that less than two months earlier lambasted the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) executive director as a “charlatan” who had betrayed the president....

At the time, Kirk had spoken against military strikes targeting Iran that were ordered by Trump, for whom TPUSA had rallied young voters’ support. Kirk had also been vocal about wanting a full release of materials pertaining to the prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein, the former Trump friend who in 2008 had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor and in 2019 died in jail while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

Loomer in those days said she was also upset that, just one year removed from Trump’s having survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, Kirk had hosted the comedian Dave Smith at a conference after the latter called on the Republican president to be impeached and for his supporters to “abandon” him...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/12/laura-loomer-charlie-kirk


Oh. Right. She is protected by the "MAGA can lie all the way to the Bank" Shadow Clause of the Constitution introduced on the Shadow Docket of a once honored Court.

Bayard

(27,172 posts)
33. This means they're reading people's texts and emails?
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 01:45 PM
Sep 13

Not only stomping on freedom of speech, but also privacy laws. Last I heard, you don't give those up with you join the military.

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