TEXT:

TMZ followed by several different other “news” sites (I use that term lightly) published a story with this all caps headline “PETE HEGSETH
BLEW BILLION$ ON FRUIT BASKETS, LOBSTER” accompanied by a photo with him, surrounded by a bunch of plastic lobsters.

If you’ve never covered the military, or served, or if you don’t have any family or friends in the military this would seem like a shocking story.

But it’s not–not even remotely.

It is a common practice for our country to provide these special meals to our service men and women at least once a week–Has been for decades.

I did my due diligence to prove my point to anyone who doubts my accuracy — in 2009 when Robert Gates was the secretary defense during the Obama administration I present you with a story from a reporter who was embedded with the soldiers in Afghanistan.

“The lobsters and crab legs are shipped from the United States and driven down on a refrigerated truck from Bagram.
On seafood night, the crew serves up 400 of the tasty tails, 130 pounds of Alaskan King crab legs, and 135 pounds each of shrimp and scallops.”

Here is the link: https://dvidshub.net/news/519652/reporters-notebook-eatin-good-afghanistan

And here is a story from 2024 when Lloyd Austin was the secretary of defense and Joe Biden was the president of the United States.

“The military spent $103.7 million on meat, fish and poultry, including $16.6 million on ribeye steak and 147 orders of lobster tail for $6.1 million.

Orders of blueberries, ice cream and doughnuts also exceeded $100,000.”

https://realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2025/01/28/waste_of_the_day_pentagon_posts_most_expensive_month_since_2008_1087219.html

I am once again disappointed with the lack of balance and context in my profession. Deeply embarrassed and disappointed in members of Congress, who were tweeting this out. Why? Well because how is it that they don’t know this?

You may or may not like who is the current president of the United States, but your obsession should not make something that is both a norm but also a show of gratefulness for our soldiers, an outrage to satisfy your unhappiness.