Pete Hegseth Drinking Problem Allegations
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About
Pete Hegseth Drinking Problem Allegations, also known as Pete Hegseth Alcoholism Rumors or Pete Hegseth's Excessive Drinking, refers to claims that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has a drinking problem or alcoholism. The widespread rumors stem from his days as a Fox News host in the mid-to-late 2010s. The claims came to the forefront in early 2025 when Hegseth became the Secretary of Defense in President Donald Trump's second administration. His alleged alcohol problem combined with probing discourse about his ability to fill the cabinet position. Jokes and memes about Pete Hegseth allegedly being an alcoholic and being drunk on the job notably surfaced in late March 2025 when Hegseth accidentally texted war plans to the Atlantic's Editor-In-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat. The controversy became known as "Signalgate." Memes about the incident likened the blunder to Hegseth being drunk. Future blunders were then likened to the same reasoning as additional controversies surrounding him brewed in April 2025.
Origin
On December 3rd, 2024, NBC News[4] reported that 10 current and former Fox News employees, who spoke with them, claimed that Pete Hegseth "drank in ways that concerned his colleagues." According to the report, "They smelled alcohol on him before he went on air" and "heard him talk about being hungover as he was getting ready or on set."
Also on December 3rd, Twitter / X [5] user @yashar tweeted about the NBC News article, gaining over 7.8 million views and 6,400 likes in four months (shown below).
On December 4th, 2024, the Washington Post[1] published a similar article in which the paper spoke with six former Fox News employees who claimed that Hegseth "had a reputation as a heavy drinker" and that they "saw him drinking on the job or visibly drunk at work events."
That same day, Hegseth addressed the rumors by saying that, if he were confirmed as Secretary of Defense in Donald Trump's second administration, he would abstain from alcohol.[3]
Spread
The abovementioned tweet sparked outrage among some former and current Fox News employees on X. For instance, on December 3rd, 2024, Fox News host Will Cain quote tweeted the post, writing, "Bullshit. 100 percent bullshit. Actually… horseshit," gaining over 33,000 likes in four months (shown below).
Reactions from Hegseth's detractors also surfaced on X, like a tweet from X[6] user @ProjectLincoln on December 3rd, who said, "Maybe a guy who can’t be trusted around alcohol or strip clubs shouldn’t be trusted with the nuclear codes either?" The post received roughly 6,500 likes in four months (shown below).
Hegseth Allegedly Drinking At NATO Conference
On February 13th, 2025, TikToker[2] @amiyaroses posted a video of Pete Hegseth speaking behind a podium at a NATO conference, seen drinking a glass of an unknown, clear liquid. The TikToker believed that the glass contained liquor and added a text caption that read, "Hegseth just casually drinking on the job 😂😂." Over two months, the video received roughly 114,200 likes (shown below).
@amiyaroses gota shake off those nerves #fyp #politicstiktok #hegseth #news #foxnews #absnews ♬ original sound – amiya rose
The video was quickly reposted by X[7] user @fiercefreckled on February 14th, receiving over 8.7 million views and 80,000 likes in two months.
Fact-checking website Snopes[8] ran an article on the rumor on February 14th, 2025, calling the rumor "unfounded," stating, "no credible evidence existed to confirm the rumor that Hegseth drank alcohol at his NATO news conference."
Signalgate
On March 24th, 2025, the Atlantic[9] Editor-In-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg published an article called "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans," which detailed a Signal group chat called "Houthi PC Small Group" that he was added to seemingly by members of President Donald Trump's administration, most notably Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz (Mike Waltz). The Hegseth account texted info about classified bombings in Yemen against Houthi rebels.
The incident made international headlines and spawned numerous memes at Hegseth's expense. Many of the jokes were aimed at Hegseth's alleged drinking problem, inferring that he was drunk texting the war plans.
For instance, on March 24th, X[10] user @PeterTwinklage tweeted, "Pete Hegseth drunk texting reporters at The Atlantic," captioning an exploited Borat 2 Tonite Queen?? meme. In a month, the tweet received over 66,000 likes (shown below).
Later on March 24th, 2025, Hegseth responded to the Signalgate controversy on Fox News, stating, "So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes."[12]
On March 25th, X[11] user @golub tweeted the Fox News segment, captioning it, I have an eye for alcoholics—Pete Hegseth is drinking heavily again," gaining over 26,000 likes in a month (shown below).
I have an eye for alcoholics--Pete Hegseth is drinking heavily again. pic.twitter.com/s8YPKVr4Lr
— Mykhaïlo Golub (@golub) March 25, 2025
Further Spread
Jokes and memes about Pete Hegseth's alleged drinking problem continued into mid-2025. For instance, on April 20th, 2025, the X[13] account @TheDemocrats tweeted, "@PeteHegseth needs to go."
Hegseth replied on X[14] that day, writing, "Your agenda is illegals, trans & DEI — all of which are no longer allowed."
On April 21st, @TheDemocrats added to the X[15] chain, posting a blurry iPhone screen, captioned, "Pete's POV," gaining over 4.4 million views and 106,000 likes in two days (shown below).
Also on April 21st, 2025, X[16] user @OrganizerMemes tweeted a parody of the McDonald's in the Pentagon song, leading with the lyrics, "Pete's drinking at the Pentagon." Over two days, the video received over 11,000 likes (shown below).
— Organizermemes (@OrganizerMemes) April 21, 2025
On April 22nd, X[15] user @GayLaVie tweeted a photo of Pete Hegseth, captioning it, "If I send you this it means I want to get drinks and share secrets," receiving over 56,000 likes in a day (shown below).
Various Examples
Search Interest
External References
[1] Washington Post – Hegseth’s history with alcohol shadows Pentagon selection
[2] TikTok – @amiyaroses
[3] Daily Beast – Hegseth Vows to Abstain from Alcohol if Confirmed
[4] NBC News – Pete Hegseth's drinking worried colleagues at Fox News, sources tell NBC News
[6] X – @ProjectLincoln
[7] X – @fiercefreckled
[8] Snopes – Unfounded rumor claims Pete Hegseth drank alcohol during NATO news conference
[9] Atlantic – The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
[10] X – @PeterTwinklage
[12] Adweek – Pete Hegseth Calls Atlantic Editor 'Deceitful' After War Plans Leak
[13] X – @TheDemocrats
[14] X – @PeteHegseth
[16] X – @OrganizerMemes
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