CRBC News
Politics
Conflict
Security
Economy
Science
Technology
Environment
Health
Culture
Society
Lifestyle
Politics

Colby Hall Labels Pete Hegseth a 'Total Buffoon' on CNN, Questions His Fitness to Lead the Pentagon

03:12 AM, 12/06/2025

Colby Hall, Mediaite’s founding editor, told CNN that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is a “total buffoon” and unfit to lead the Pentagon. His remarks came after a Washington Post report alleging Hegseth ordered a lethal strike on an alleged smuggling vessel on Sept. 2, and after a Pentagon IG found risky Signal messaging practices by Hegseth. Hall said these episodes, and a perceived culture of impunity, explain why Hegseth remains in his post despite bipartisan concerns.

Mediaite Editor Calls Out Defense Secretary on CNN

Mediaite founding editor Colby Hall sharply criticized Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on CNN's NewsNight with Abby Phillip, calling him a “total buffoon” and an “unmitigated disaster” while arguing that Hegseth’s behavior aligns with what President Donald Trump appears to reward in his appointees.

Hall's comments came as lawmakers were briefed by Navy Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley about a Sept. 2 strike on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Trinidad. A Washington Post report, citing people familiar with the matter, alleges Hegseth gave an order to kill everyone on the boat; Bradley later ordered a second strike while two survivors remained. Bradley has publicly denied that a closed-door “kill them all” order was issued.

Beyond the disputed strikes, Hall pointed to a Pentagon Inspector General report that flagged Hegseth’s use of the encrypted messaging app Signal. The IG report says Hegseth accidentally added a journalist to a group chat that discussed plans related to Yemen and concluded his Signal use risked the “potential compromise of sensitive DOD information, which could cause harm to DOD personnel and mission objectives.”

In an op-ed for Mediaite, Hall wrote that “buffoonery” and “chaos” appear to be features, not bugs, of Hegseth’s tenure: “President Donald Trump isn’t troubled by Hegseth’s ineptitude; he’s energized by the spectacle of it. He values ratings over standards, controversy over competence.”

“He’s a total buffoon. And it begs the question, how is he still in this role? … The answer is because there is a culture of impunity in this administration,” Hall said on CNN, blaming both the White House and a sympathetic Republican-led Congress for shielding Hegseth from accountability.

The exchange and the underlying reports have intensified bipartisan scrutiny of Hegseth’s leadership, oversight of lethal operations abroad, and the standards applied to senior Pentagon officials.

Sources: CNN, Mediaite, The Washington Post, Pentagon Inspector General briefing.

Similar Articles

Trending

Colby Hall Labels Pete Hegseth a 'Total Buffoon' on CNN, Questions His Fitness to Lead the Pentagon - CRBC News