Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s defense pick, says allowing gay troops to serve openly reflects a Marxist agenda. Hegseth argues that the inclusion of gay troops is not aligned with traditional military values.

Many believe Hegseth’s comments reveal underlying tensions within the military regarding LGBTQ+ service.

In 2015, Hegseth had said the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy “erode standards” in favor of political goals. The policy was later repealed under the Obama administration, allowing openly gay service members.