Political analyst Steve Schmidt has launched a robust critique against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration, alleging that the military leader approaches warfare as if it were a spectacle and labeling the current government as a danger to democratic principles.
A former Republican strategist who worked with high-profile figures such as George W. Bush and the late Senator John McCain, Schmidt authored an incendiary piece on his Substack platform titled "Killing for sport." In this essay, he denounces Hegseth as "unfit and disgraceful," describing him as "a broken child in uniform" and "a degenerate pretender who sees violence as a virtue."
Schmidt’s critique centers on the incident involving an Iranian frigate, which he views as an unnecessary and purposeless act of destruction.
"Pete Hegseth sought death, and he carried out the killing to achieve his desires. War is inherently tragic, and the decisions made by a defense secretary should have clear justification. Engaging in combat without cause is morally reprehensible, and Pete Hegseth is another ominous figure unleashed by MAGA extremists at the precipice of chaos," Schmidt stated, emphasizing that the vessel was unarmed and located 2,500 miles away from Iranian territory.
He further criticized Trump, characterizing him as "deranged and inept" and comparing him to "a true American Nero" who has "set the world ablaze." Schmidt pointed out that Trump campaigned on a promise of peace but instead brought about conflict.
Schmidt argues that the Trump administration poses a significant threat to constitutional governance, accusing officials of being "constitutional miscreants" implementing "an unconstitutional aberration." He urges active resistance against what he calls "a real-time catastrophe unfolding before our eyes."