Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid homage to the fallen for Memorial Day (Image: Getty)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, honoring the nation’s fallen, but the speech quickly became a hot topic online as supporters clashed.

Trump spokeswoman Margo Martin posted a clip of the remarks to X, which racked up nearly 70,000 views.

Standing at a podium bearing the presidential seal, Hegseth addressed the fallen directly, “They’ve now gone on to their reward, but we remember them here on this hallowed ground.” The news follows Hegseth being mercilessly mocked for a Freudian slip.

He continued with a solemn send-off to the dead, “To those I say your watch is finished.”

“What you left, you raced to the breach so that we could walk in freedom and prosperity,” he said.

Several questioned the very title Hegseth now holds, with one saying, “There is literally no such thing as the Secretary of War, just like there is literally no tangible credibility with the Trump White House.”

Others accused Hegseth of political theater, saying, “Making up patriotic bullshit to impress the MAGA,” wrote another commenter. “Really pathetic.”

One user directed his fire at Trump’s political base rather than Hegseth himself, writing, “Unnecessary deaths for unnecessary wars – but MAGA, your time to shine. Age is 42 for the Army, have at it!”

A fourth penned, “Pete Hegseth is a moron. Does he not see the diversity of West Point. He is an idiot.”

A fifth noted, “I think Pete Hegseth the dummy forgot to say Jesus did not only died but was raised up from death but the people put their trust in their military instead of Jesus and what His death meant.”

The post drew mixed reactions across political lines, reflecting the deep divide over Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon.

Supportive commenters praised the moment.

“True heroes need no embellishment,” wrote one user, adding, “Thank you to every warrior who has stood guard and completed their mission. Our nation stands great because of you. Salute to you all.”

The defense secretary has faced criticism in recent months over speeches at West Point where he attacked diversity programs and what he calls “woke” ideology.

The Memorial Day speeach was similar to another speech he gave almost one year earlier in Quantico, Virginia.

“It’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops. Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon,” Hegseth then said.

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