Meh.
Hegseth's statements on the issue-
"I don't need to get into the characterization of we know who invaded who. We understand the stakes of this game," Hegseth said in a recent interview, sidestepping a direct answer when pressed about Russia's role.
When asked why there appeared to be hesitation in naming Russia the aggressor, Hegseth deflected: "Does all the finger-pointing and pearl-clutching make peace more likely?"
The media's breathless compelling of speech they and they alone decide that is appropriate from elected officials while peace negotiations (for the first time since this war started, mind you) are clickbait at best, disingenuous at worst.
He said what he said when he was at Fox News. Now he's responsible for ensuring that further escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war doesn't cost American lives. The end goal here is a negotiated peace and an end to the slaughtering of Ukrainians, which, until VERY recently, I was told has to be America's number 1 goal above all else because we are the sole arbiter of peace in the world. Call me crazy, but maybe coming out and saying "RUSSIA BAD WE HATE RUSSIA" from his position isn't in the administration's messaging for the ongoing peace negotiations?
I'll wait for the outrage carousel to come back around on this one.