Lawrence O’Donnell says Pete Hegseth’s military phrase is outdated
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell said on “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s use of the phrase “we’re leaving no one behind” was outdated while responding to comments during a White House briefing about a recent U.S. military rescue operation.
O’Donnell began: Referring to Hegseth’s statement directly and contrasts with what he describes as a more modern understanding of military service.
“Of course, this was the old-school version of the idea from when only men flew American military aircraft,” O’Donnell said.
He noted how military language has evolved, noting that the current leadership has adopted broader terminology.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left; Representative Yassamin Ansari, right. (Alex Wong/Getty Images; Matt McClain/Getty Images)
DEMOCRATS, WHOSE FAMILIES FLED FROM IRAN, TAKE ACTION TO OVERLOAD HEGSETH
O’Donnell argued that the updated wording better reflected the inclusion of women in combat roles and claimed that Gen. Dan Kaine’s framework was more accurate.
“The general, unlike Pete Hegseth, knows she could be a woman they’re trying to save,” O’Donnell said. “Next time it might be a woman.”
Staff members watch Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speak, reflected through a window, during a news conference at the Pentagon on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
HEGSETH DEFENDS TRUMP’S IRAN SHOTS, DEMANDING MEDIA TO ‘KEEP IT TRUE’
The MSNBC host then expanded on his criticism, challenging the idea that the U.S. military consistently supports this principle in practice.
“The 21st-century notion that we should leave no one behind ignores the 120,000 prisoners of war held by German and Japanese forces in World War II,” O’Donnell said, noting that these prisoners had been “left behind” for years.
He also referenced the Vietnam War, citing the late Senator John McCain’s experience.
President Donald Trump addresses the nation at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2026. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
TRUMP SAYS IRAN’S LINE OF SUCCESSION WAS ERASED WHEN ISRAEL’S ATTACK HIT LEADERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS
“We left John McCain behind in Vietnam,” O’Donnell said, describing how McCain was captured and held as a prisoner of war for five years.
O’Donnell attributed that date to comments President Donald Trump made during his first presidential campaign.
O’Donnell quoted Trump as saying, “When he was reminded that John McCain was a war hero, Donald Trump said he was not a war hero.” He said: “I like people who don’t get caught.”
O’Donnell emphasized how modern rescue missions differ significantly from conflicts of the past.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS ON MEDIA AND CULTURE
“The idea of using 155 aircraft and hundreds of military personnel on an emergency rescue mission for a single person… would have been unthinkable in World War II or Vietnam,” he said.
O’Donnell ultimately framed his critique around what he saw as the disconnect between rhetoric and reality in military history and politics.
“The idea…ignores history,” he said, arguing that the phrase goes beyond its original meaning and should reflect both modern soldiers and the historical context.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
