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demmiblue

(38,710 posts)
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:28 PM 8 hrs ago

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
27 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 8 hrs ago OP
They risk their lives to protect freedom of speech. Irish_Dem 8 hrs ago #1
Have another drink iron jaw. JFC what a goddamn weenie. Klarkashton 8 hrs ago #2
Weak chin wolfie001 7 hrs ago #12
Doesn't stop him from doing that jaw clenching thing all Klarkashton 7 hrs ago #13
You piece of shit Hegseth if you're trying to piss me off more than anyone Eliot Rosewater 8 hrs ago #3
Why do those on the left kacekwl 8 hrs ago #4
Anyone remember when the US military swore to fight for Americans' freedoms? sinkingfeeling 8 hrs ago #5
First ammendment lawsuits. mwmisses4289 8 hrs ago #6
So if I was in the military, and innocently pointed out the resemblance between rsdsharp 8 hrs ago #7
Fragging Major Hegseth pfitz59 8 hrs ago #8
He's a piece of shit scumbag drunk motherfucker Random Person 8 hrs ago #9
Charlie KKKirk never served, unless you count the MAGA grifter force. Crowman2009 8 hrs ago #10
Drunk POS nt wolfie001 7 hrs ago #11
Not a good time to join the military in America Puppyjive 6 hrs ago #14
Hey Pete can I call you Pete does that include air force brats like my self............you idiot.............. turbinetree 6 hrs ago #15
Freedom of Speech Definition.....? damifino10 6 hrs ago #16
The McCarthyite witch hunt is on. Martin68 6 hrs ago #17
This is a freakshow administration kwolf68 6 hrs ago #18
Penta-gone to Hell in a hand basket. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist 6 hrs ago #19
You do not give up your freedom of speech Farmer-Rick 5 hrs ago #20
That's some made up bullshit to attack people with. Solly Mack 5 hrs ago #21
Not a service member, but I can send him my negative KPN 4 hrs ago #22
November 8, 2028 Can't Come Soon Enough eringer 4 hrs ago #23
The "free speech absolutists" at it again Prairie Gates 3 hrs ago #24
The Big Lie has become the Official Lie of the Trump administration thought crime 3 hrs ago #25
There are reports of school teachers and other workers markodochartaigh 2 hrs ago #26
This sounds like a purge to me. And also a tactic to scare people, disgusting. Dave Bowman 1 hr ago #27

Klarkashton

(3,903 posts)
13. Doesn't stop him from doing that jaw clenching thing all
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:51 PM
7 hrs ago

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

Eliot Rosewater

(33,939 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
8 hrs ago

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

(8,562 posts)
4. Why do those on the left
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:35 PM
8 hrs ago

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

mwmisses4289

(2,135 posts)
6. First ammendment lawsuits.
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:41 PM
8 hrs ago

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.

rsdsharp

(11,274 posts)
7. So if I was in the military, and innocently pointed out the resemblance between
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 07:42 PM
8 hrs ago

Charlie Kirk and Rudolf Hess I could be kicked out?

Crowman2009

(3,252 posts)
10. Charlie KKKirk never served, unless you count the MAGA grifter force.
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 08:01 PM
8 hrs ago

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

Puppyjive

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

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

turbinetree

(26,515 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
6 hrs ago

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
6 hrs ago

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

(8,136 posts)
18. This is a freakshow administration
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 09:41 PM
6 hrs ago

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

Farmer-Rick

(12,055 posts)
20. You do not give up your freedom of speech
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:19 PM
5 hrs ago

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

(3,896 posts)
26. There are reports of school teachers and other workers
Sat Sep 13, 2025, 01:26 AM
2 hrs ago

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/

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