Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a highly unusual move, is scheduled to campaign in Kentucky on Monday alongside Ed Gallrein, a former member of the Navy SEALs who is challenging Representative Thomas Massie in Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Even for Mr. Hegseth, who has stretched the boundaries of partisan politics in his job leading the Pentagon, it would be an extraordinary breach of decorum for a serving defense secretary to campaign for a political candidate. Pentagon officials typically stay far away from such activities to maintain the military’s apolitical image.
Mr. Hegseth’s top aides, who noted that the secretary will also travel to Fort Campbell, Ky., on Monday to award Purple Heart medals to soldiers, pushed back on any notion of impropriety about the campaign stop.
“Secretary Hegseth is attending this event in his personal capacity,” Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. “No taxpayer dollars will be used to facilitate his visit. His participation has been thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers, including the Department of War Office of General Counsel, and does not violate the Hatch Act or any other applicable federal statute.”
Mr. Massie has voted repeatedly against President Trump’s policies, including the war in Iran and his tax legislation, and the president has promised to replace him. Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Gallrein in October.
Eric Schmitt is a national security correspondent for The Times. He has reported on U.S. military affairs and counterterrorism for more than three decades. Contact him securely on Signal: ericschmitt.36.
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