Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has found himself at the center of controversy once again, this time due to a workout video that has gone viral on Social Media. The video, which shows Hegseth lifting weights alongside U.S. troops, has drawn criticism for his poor exercise form and has sparked a debate about the standards he sets for military service.
The video, shared by the U.S. Defense Department’s Rapid Response official account on X (formerly Twitter) on June 11, quickly gained traction, amassing 4.7 million views. It shows Hegseth attempting a bench-press workout at Guantanamo Bay, with military personnel spotting him. A longer version of the video also shows him struggling to lift two dumbbells over his head, despite the post claiming he “crushed” the workout.
Social media reactions to the video
While some social media users praised Hegseth, the majority of responses mocked his form and accused him of poor technique. The video has become a hot topic online, with users sharing their opinions and critiques.
Fitness experts weigh in on Hegseth’s form
Fitness experts have largely agreed that Hegseth’s workout video comes off as performative and is a poor example for those hoping to learn how to do these exercises correctly. Cole Francum, a gay Nike trainer and coach at Session Training in New York City, was particularly critical of Hegseth’s form.
“Unfortunately for people with eyeballs and a WiFi connection, Pete Hegseth has shown us way too many times that his general movement quality sucks ass,” Francum said. He went on to criticize Hegseth’s bench press technique, noting that he fails to use his legs and does not perform a full squat while holding dumbbells.
Francum also took issue with Hegseth’s kettlebell swing, stating that “any coach with eyes can see his arms are clearly in a different world from his hips.” He suggested that Hegseth’s poor form is indicative of his haphazard and unconcerned attitude towards protecting American citizens.
Joe Ghafari, the cofounder and head coach at the LGBTQ+ fitness retreat Visiting Wrld, also criticized Hegseth’s form. He noted that Hegseth’s wrists were significantly bent in an abnormal direction during the overhead press exercise, indicating weak wrist and forearm strength.
Marwa Ahmed, a fitness expert and CEO of The BodyMind Coach, agreed that Hegseth’s form was poor. She noted that his lower back was in hyperextension, his hips were lifting off the bench, and his glutes didn’t stay in contact with the bench. She also pointed out that Hegseth “cheated” when he was doing an overhead press by resting the dumbbells on his chest.
Ahmed emphasized that there is a difference between lifting weights for the sake of ego and weightlifting for the sake of moving better and getting stronger. She suggested that Hegseth’s high rep count with compromised form was likely an attempt to impress rather than a genuine effort to improve his strength and technique.
