Pete Hegseth Rips Former Fox News Colleague Over ‘Fake News’ Claims

In a recent exchange that has sparked considerable debate, Pete Hegseth, the current Defense Secretary and former Fox News host, vehemently criticized his former colleague, journalist Jen Griffin, for her reporting on a letter from House Democrats.

The letter, which questioned Hegseth’s request for over $130,000 in repairs for his government-furnished home, was labeled “fake news” by Hegseth, despite the factual nature of the information presented.

The controversy began when Griffin shared the Democrats’ letter on social media platform X, which called for an explanation from Hegseth regarding the substantial amount requested for home repairs.

Among the expenses highlighted was a staggering $49,000 earmarked for what was described as an “emergency” paint job. The Democrats’ inquiry was particularly pointed given the current climate of fiscal austerity and the Department of Government Efficiency’s push to reduce federal spending.

Hegseth, who is set to earn an annual salary of $246,000, responded to Griffin’s post by asserting that both she and the Democrats were “the same thing” and accused them of disregarding facts in favor of a narrative driven by their disdain for former President Donald Trump.

“Any/all house repairs were going to happen no matter who was moving in—and were all initiated by [Department of Defense],” he stated, attempting to deflect the scrutiny aimed at his financial requests.

The Democrats’ letter not only questioned the necessity of the repairs but also sought to understand why Hegseth opted to live in a government-provided home rather than private housing, a choice that has become increasingly common among high-ranking officials.

For context, former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin chose to reside in his own home in Great Falls, Virginia, rather than utilizing government accommodations.

The letter also raised broader concerns about the living conditions of service members and their families, many of whom face substandard housing situations, including issues with mold and lead paint.

The Democrats urged Hegseth to commit to providing service members with housing that meets acceptable standards, highlighting a stark contrast between the living conditions of military families and the lavish accommodations afforded to high-ranking officials.

Hegseth’s reaction to Griffin’s report underscores the heightened tensions between political figures and the media, particularly in an era where accusations of “fake news” have become a common refrain among those in power.

His comments reflect a broader strategy employed by some politicians to discredit unfavorable coverage by framing it as biased or misleading.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the implications of Hegseth’s remarks extend beyond a mere disagreement with a colleague.

They highlight the ongoing struggle over accountability and transparency in government spending, particularly in an administration that has promised to streamline operations and cut unnecessary expenditures.

In a time when public trust in government is fragile, the exchange between Hegseth and Griffin serves as a reminder of the critical role that factual reporting plays in holding officials accountable.

As the Democrats await Hegseth’s response to their inquiries, the conversation surrounding government spending and the treatment of service members remains at the forefront of national discourse.

Pete Hegseth rips former Fox News colleague and calls out ‘fake news’ for her sharing of factual information

Pete Hegseth aggressively pushed back on a Fox News colleague’s report about a letter from Democrats to the defense secretary, claiming it was “fake news” despite the factual information.

Responding to a report from journalist Jen Griffin on X, Hegseth claimed Griffin and Democrats were the “same thing” and that neither “care about facts” because “they’re just Trump haters.”

Hours earlier, Griffin posted a letter from Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee to Hegseth asking the defense secretary to explain why he required more than $130,000 for home repairs for his government-furnished house, including $49,000 for an “emergency” paint job.

Democrats have asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to explain why he needs more than $100k to repair a government-furnished home. When a Fox News host shared the letter, Hegseth ripped his former colleague (Getty Images)
The Fox News chief national security correspondent stated that Democrats were asking why Hegseth needed money for home repairs in light of the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to drastically reduce federal spending.

Hegseth has requested $137,297 to repair the 4,000-square-foot government-furnished home.

In their letter, Democrats pointed out that Hegsth will earn an annual income of $246,000 and already has millions of dollars from his former career as a Fox News host. Democrats are asking Hegseth to answer their questions by the end of February.

Despite only sharing the letter sent from Congress, Hegseth claimed Griffin was sharing “fake news.”

“Any/all house repairs were going to happen no matter who was moving in–and were all initiated by [Department of Defense],” Hegseth wrote.

“But Dems/Jen don’t care about facts; they’re just Trump haters,” he added.

As defense secretary, Hegseth has the opportunity to live in government housing but it is more common for people in those positions to opt to live in private housing, according to Military.com. Former defense secretary Lloyd Austin lived in his own home in Great Falls, Virginia.

Since Hegseth is choosing to live in the home, Democrats have asked him to justify why he needs the government-provided home, why it needs to be improved and how much he plans to pay in rent.

“We know that many service members and their families currently live in unacceptable housing conditions including houses with mold, lead paint, and other hazards. What commitment will you make to provide service members with a similarly high quality of housing for themselves and their families?” the letter states.

Hegseth is one of President Donald Trump’s more controversial cabinet picks – and has become a target for Democrats.

Their request is more politicized by the fact that Trump and his right-hand man, billionaire Elon Musk, are making drastic changes to the federal government in order to reduce federal spending and make American taxpayer dollars more meaningful.

Musk and Trump are attempting to place thousands of federal workers on administrative leave and plan to axe many others that they believe are unnecessary – all in the name of saving money.