Pete Hegseth Fires Back at Judge Who Used His Words Against Him

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has criticized the federal judge who blocked the Donald Trump administration in its attempts to ban transgender people from serving in the military.

Hegseth referred to U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes as a “commander” in a social media post and suggested she visit military bases since she is “now a top military planner.”

Newsweek has contacted the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for comment via email outside regular working hours.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump risks a potential constitutional confrontation amid rising tensions between the administration and members of the federal judiciary who have issued rulings or spoken out against executive orders.

Reyes, who was nominated to the bench by former President Joe Biden, noted in her ruling that Hegseth’s social media posts suggesting that transgender Americans can be banned from serving in the military “without an exemption” contradicted the administration’s stated position.

What To Know

Trump signed an executive order, Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness, in January which affects transgender people who wish to serve in the armed forces.

The order does not use the word “transgender,” but suggests that those expressing a “false ‘gender identity'” cannot meet the “rigorous standards” necessary for military service.

Reyes ruled on March 18 that the order may violate the constitutional right to equal protection and could hinder military readiness.

In a Saturday post on X, formerly Twitter, Hegseth mockingly referred to Reyes using “she/they” pronouns and suggested she should now also be responsible for making decisions about how to run the military and prepare for warfare.

The Pentagon previously argued that the transgender ban was not discriminatory, as waivers would be decided on a “case-by-case” basis.

In her ruling, Reyes noted that Hegseth contradicted this defense. In a February 27 post on X, Hegseth shared a Fox News article while quoting the headline: “Pentagon says transgender troops are disqualified from service without an exemption.”

The Trump administration declined Reyes’ request for a declaration on whether Hegseth’s post reflected official policy, reported Politico senior legal affairs reporter Kyle Cheney.

The Defense Department issued new guidance on Friday, stating it would enforce Trump’s ban based on medical diagnosis for those with gender dysphoria, rather than a sweeping transgender ban.

What People Are Saying

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on X: “Since ‘Judge’ Reyes is now a top military planner, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to instruct our Army Rangers on how to execute High Value Target Raids… After that, Commander Reyes can dispatch to Fort Bragg to train our Green Berets on counterinsurgency warfare.”

Kaeley Triller Haver, founder of the anti-trans group Hands Across the Aisle Coalition, wrote on X: “Say what you will about Hegseth, but he’s right about this. You can’t serve in the military if you have epilepsy, symptomatic flat feet, terrible vision, diabetes, or a litany of other conditions, but you should be able to serve in the military if you need daily hormone injections? I don’t think so. At a certain point, when you demand equal treatment, you have to stop complaining when you actually get it and discover that the rules that apply to everyone else also apply to you.”

Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. Army officer, posted: “Mr. Secretary Hegseth, you took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. Publicly attacking a judge would seem to be at odds with that oath. At best, it sets a poor example for your subordinates.”

U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in her March 18 ruling: “The president has the power—indeed the obligation—to ensure military readiness. At times, however, leaders have used concern for military readiness to deny marginalized persons the privilege of serving. First minorities, then women in combat, then gays filled in that blank. Today, however, our military is stronger and our nation is safer for the millions of such blanks (and all other persons) who serve.

“Indeed, the cruel irony is that thousands of transgender service members have sacrificed—some risking their lives—to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the military ban seeks to deny them.”

What Happens Next

The Trump administration and the Department of Justice are appealing to have Reyes lift her block on the executive order, citing the new guidance stating that the ban will now be based on medical diagnoses rather than an outright transgender prohibition.