Ben Shapiro Discusses Wokeness in Military Training with Fox News’ Pete Hegseth

In a new “Sunday Special” interview, Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro spoke to Fox News host Pete Hegseth about wokeness in the military.

Shapiro noted that Hegseth has a new book coming out on Tuesday, “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” which examines how the military allowed itself to go woke. The book has also become a Fox Nation series with Hegseth and his panel of veterans.

During their hour-long discussion, Hegseth, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan discussed how the military allowed woke ideology into its ranks as well as the Left’s accusations of white supremacy within the military.

“The everyday soldier on the line is as amazing as he ever was or she ever was, but when it comes to the brass, that has obviously changed,” Shapiro began, noting that those who notice “wokeness” in the military are often criticized.

“Correct, you can’t blame me for pointing out what you’re doing to an institution that’s beloved to me and my fellow warrior class,” Hegseth responded.

“This is an institution more focused than any other in our government, in our society, on meritocracy, on lethality, on readiness,” Hegseth continued, adding that the military underwent a “fundamental transformation” under Obama.

“Especially under Obama, the focus became, ‘No, no, no, no, what about these gender issues? What about these trans issues? What about these women in combat issues? What about climate change?’ And certainly under Biden, it’s been, ‘What about extremism?’”

WATCH THE FULL ‘SUNDAY SPECIAL’ EPISODE WITH PETE HEGSETH

Hegseth explained that new, young soldiers who join the U.S. Armed Forces are bombarded with “woke ideology” during training.

“You mentioned the warriors are just as good as they’ve always been. I agree, kind of. The challenge is because it’s a top-down organization, you start pushing things like DEI, now your young lieutenants and your young privates going through basic or going through ROTC or going through West Point are getting that woke ideology as part of their training.”

Shapiro also asked Hegseth about the Biden administration’s accusations that the military is a breeding ground for white supremacist sentiment.

“Where is that coming from?” Shapiro asked.

Hegseth said that after George Floyd’s death in 2020, Defense Department leadership took the opportunity to address a supposed “systemic problem” of racism in the military.

“The Left knows that by pushing DEI, now they’ve got black soldiers looking at white soldiers and white soldiers looking at black soldiers wondering who really deserved what or why they’re in a position, which is really toxic for an organization primed on unity,” Hegseth said.

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