Pete Hegseth used an anti‑transgender slur while speaking at Texas A&M, drawing cheers and renewed criticism. He framed the military as "merit‑based," touted rollbacks such as ending DEI offices and quotas, and repeated the derogatory line 'No more trannies, just training.' The remarks mirror earlier comments and follow policy moves to bar transgender recruits and pause transition‑related care; courts have signaled the ban may be unconstitutional and the Supreme Court could decide whether to review the case this fall.
Pete Hegseth Uses Anti-Trans Slur at Texas A&M, Draws Cheers and Renewed Criticism
Photo Credit: Zach Del Bello/Getty Images
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used an anti‑transgender slur while addressing the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets during the opening stop of his 'Send Me' recruitment tour, drawing cheers and applause from the audience and prompting renewed criticism of his rhetoric toward transgender service members.
What He Said
Speaking about his view that the military should operate on merit alone, Hegseth outlined a series of policy rollbacks — he said DEI offices were abolished, quotas eliminated and "social experiments" ended — then added the remark, 'No more trannies, just training.' Cadets responded with applause; Hegseth smiled and asked, 'Makes sense, right?' before laughing softly. The term he used is widely regarded as a derogatory slur against transgender people.
Policy Context
The remarks echo language Hegseth used earlier this month at the Iowa State Fair while endorsing Rep. Zach Nunn. They also align with policy changes Hegseth has overseen since taking office: within weeks of his confirmation he reinstated a ban on transgender people joining the military, the Pentagon broadened that policy, and officials paused gender-transition procedures for active-duty personnel.
Legal Pushback
Court challenges have followed those policies. In June, a federal appeals court panel concluded the ban is likely unconstitutional, although the Supreme Court has allowed enforcement to continue while litigation proceeds. In late August, the administration asked the Supreme Court to permit full enforcement of the ban; the justices may decide this fall whether to take up the matter.
Reactions
Civil rights groups, LGBTQ+ advocates and some legal experts condemned Hegseth's language as harmful and demeaning to transgender service members. Supporters say such comments and policies are intended to preserve unit cohesion and focus on military readiness. The exchange at Texas A&M illustrates how rhetoric and policy are reinforcing one another in public discourse about transgender people in the armed forces.
Note: This article reports a derogatory term used by an official. The term is quoted to document what was said and is not an endorsement.
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