‘Ingrates’: Hegseth Fires Back at Leftists Shouting at National Guard
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth dismissed criticism of the National Guard during remarks on Thursday, calling protesters “ingrates” and praising Guard members for helping reduce crime in Washington, DC.
During a “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force” ceremony at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, Hegseth defended the National Guard’s mission, saying it was about restoring law and order rather than politics.
“You do your job no matter what,” Hegseth said. “It’s the sound of ingrates, of ingratitude, of people who are so blinded by ideology they can’t see law and order and common sense in front of them.”
Hegseth argued there was “nothing political” about the Guard’s mission, saying law and order is something “all Americans deserve,” regardless of race, income, or where they live. He told the troops that although many of them were not from Washington, DC, the nation’s capital belongs to all Americans and should be safe as the country marks its 250th anniversary.
.@SecWar Hegseth OWNS Leftists Screaming at National Guard: "Ingrates!" pic.twitter.com/p1Ki8jX0Al
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 3, 2026
Hegseth also praised the Guard for continuing its work despite difficult conditions, saying members would keep doing their jobs long after critics had moved on. (Read more from “‘Ingrates’: Hegseth Fires Back at Leftists Shouting at National Guard” HERE)
