WaPo Torched For Dismissing Pete Hegseth’s 2 Bronze Stars As ‘Common,’ ‘Participation Trophy’

The Washington Post took a virtual beating on Friday after publishing an article declaring that the two Bronze Star medals awarded to Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, were less than because they were awarded for “Meritorious Service” rather than for “Valor.”

In the article, military reporter Alex Horton argued that Bronze Stars “were issued somewhat liberally throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan” and suggested that because Hegseth was an officer rather than enlisted, the award — which he said had been compared to a “participation trophy” — had even less comparative value.

“While many officers have risked their lives on the battlefield, the majority of fighting and exposure to danger is performed by the enlisted troops they command,” Horton wrote.

The next sentence refuted most of the article’s claim, however. After five paragraphs effectively — and thoroughly — disparaging Hegseth’s Bronze Stars as though they were far from proof that he had distinguished himself as a combat veteran, Horton wrote the following: “Hegseth also received a Combat Infantryman Badge, which is awarded when infantry soldiers and officers engage an enemy in combat.”

In order to receive the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), soldiers must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. Be an infantry Soldier satisfactorily performing infantry duties.
2. Be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit is engaged in active ground combat.
3. Actively participate in such ground combat. Campaign or battle credit alone is not sufficient for award of the CIB.

In order to earn the CIB, Hegseth had to not only be assigned to the unit that participated in direct armed conflict, he had to be an active participant in such combat action. Horton’s willingness to write off Hegseth’s “Meritorious Service” Bronze Stars as trivial while only including his CIB as an aside suggests an agenda that many on X picked up on.

CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

“.@WaPo is seriously arguing ‘Actually, Hegseth earning two bronze stars in Iraq and Afghanistan isn’t that impressive,'” John Hasson wrote.

.@WaPo is seriously arguing “Actually, Hegseth earning two bronze stars in Iraq and Afghanistan isn’t that impressive” pic.twitter.com/dNhTYqt13J

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) December 6, 2024

“Every Bronze Star recipient, along with the families, should cancel their subscription to the Washington Post immediately. Of all the gutter trash thrown at Pete Hegseth, this may be the worst of the worst. Absolutely shameful,” Joe Concha added.

Every Bronze Star recipient, along with the families, should cancel their subscription to the Washington Post immediately. Of all the gutter trash thrown at Pete Hegseth, this may be the worst of the worst. Absolutely shameful. https://t.co/Mj5BKMHSMN

— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) December 6, 2024

Fox News host Will Cain — who cohosted “Fox & Friends Weekend” alongside Hegseth and Rachel Campos-Duffy — added, “So now they have moved to diminishing Hegseth’s Bronze Stars. This is so gross but it’s also desperate and flailing. Shows the illegitimacy of all the attacks. Just a total Kavanaugh.”

So now they have moved to diminishing Hegseth’s Bronze Stars. This is so gross but it’s also desperate and flailing. Shows the illegitimacy of all the attacks. Just a total Kavanaugh. https://t.co/Q1sM9iaUkI

— Will Cain (@willcain) December 6, 2024

“The Washington Post hates Pete Hegseth so much that it’s now decided the Bronze Star (which Hegseth was awarded 2x) is meh and not very impressive. Which is weird, because the Washington Post wrote tons of articles about collusion hoaxer Robert Mueller’s Bronze Star. Curious!” The Federalist’s Sean Davis posted.

The Washington Post hates Pete Hegseth so much that it’s now decided the Bronze Star (which Hegseth was awarded 2x) is meh and not very impressive.

Which is weird, because the Washington Post wrote tons of articles about collusion hoaxer Robert Mueller’s Bronze Star. Curious! pic.twitter.com/RhRPtoLMv7

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) December 6, 2024

“When Biden awarded the Bronze Star to an intelligence analyst, @Washingtonpost called it ‘one of the Army’s most prestigious awards.’ But when @PeteHegseth earns two of them, WaPo says ‘Actually, they’re pretty common.’ It’s (D)ifferent for some people,” Hasson added.

When Biden awarded the Bronze Star to an intelligence analyst, @Washingtonpost called it “one of the Army’s most prestigious awards”

But when @PeteHegseth earns two of them, WaPo says “Actually, they’re pretty common”

It’s (D)ifferent for some people pic.twitter.com/xgPSKSF3Xr

— John Hasson (@SonofHas) December 6, 2024