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JD Vance Praises Pete Hegseth For Lecturing Military Leaders About... Facial Hair?

Vice President JD Vance defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial speech mandating that military soldiers shave their facial hair.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday, Vance praised Hegseth for working to return the American military to its “very high standards” while taking a jab at the former Biden administration.

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“I thought Pete gave a hell of a speech. And a speech that really is just oriented around returning the American military to the very high standards it has had for virtually its entire history until [former President] Joe Biden came along and decided to lower standards,” Vance said.

He continued, “I think it was bad for our military, and it was bad for our troops.”

Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, acknowledged that he has a beard now, but argued that he can do so since he’s “now the vice president.”

“When I was a young United States Marine, I did not have a beard. I am now the vice president, so I get to do what I want to do,” Vance added. “But, I think Pete’s trying to implement high standards, and that’s a very good thing.”

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Vance’s comments came after Hegseth, joined by Trump, spoke at a rare meeting of hundreds of senior military officials at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.

During his speech, Hegseth announced that soldiers must shave their beards to comply with new grooming standards.

Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards,” Hegseth said in his speech, which outlined impending changes to the military under the Trump administration.

He added, “If you want a beard, you can join special forces. If not, then shave.”

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Hegseth, who trashed “woke” culture within the military, also told hundreds of senior military leaders that he’s tired of seeing “fat generals and admirals.”

“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he said. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world.”

Hegseth added, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling called Hegseth’s and Trump’s remarks during the meeting “insulting” and “offensive.” Multiple defense officials also slammed Hegseth’s speech, with one arguing that it “could have been an email.”