- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's military exercise videos have drawn criticism for his poor form, despite his public emphasis on strict fitness standards for the armed forces.
- The Atlantic, after consulting military guidebooks and fitness experts, concluded that Hegseth is "flouting the rules" and "sacrificing form for speed" in his widely shared videos.
- Specific criticisms include Hegseth's "half-ups" for push-ups, which would not pass military muster, and "kipping" during pull-ups, a technique forbidden by Marine guidelines.
- Fitness experts, including a Marine veteran and a retired brigadier general, pointed out flaws in his kettlebell swings and pull-up technique, noting the inconsistency with his own high standards.
- A Pentagon spokesperson defended Hegseth, accusing The Atlantic of unfairly singling him out and questioning if they had ever scrutinized the form of other officials like Lloyd Austin.
IN FULL
Pete Hegseth roasted by fitness experts for military ‘workout’ videos he keeps sharing
