- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's military exercise videos have drawn criticism for his poor form, despite his public emphasis on strict fitness standards for the armed forces.
- The Atlantic, after consulting military guidebooks and fitness experts, concluded that Hegseth is "flouting the rules" and "sacrificing form for speed" in his widely shared videos.
- Specific criticisms include Hegseth's "half-ups" for push-ups, which would not pass military muster, and "kipping" during pull-ups, a technique forbidden by Marine guidelines.
- Fitness experts, including a Marine veteran and a retired brigadier general, pointed out flaws in his kettlebell swings and pull-up technique, noting the inconsistency with his own high standards.
- A Pentagon spokesperson defended Hegseth, accusing The Atlantic of unfairly singling him out and questioning if they had ever scrutinized the form of other officials like Lloyd Austin.
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