Retired fighter pilot Amy McGrath has joined a growing list of former military personnel voicing concerns about Pete Hegseth potentially becoming Secretary of Defense, particularly in light of his association with former President Donald Trump.
McGrath, who previously ran for Senate in Kentucky in 2020, expressed her worry not only about Hegseth’s leadership but also about the broader implications of such an appointment on military integrity.
Speaking on MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House” with host Nicolle Wallace, McGrath discussed the potential fallout if Trump were to follow through on plans to remove military officials who opposed him. She raised alarms about the idea of court-martialing generals as part of a broader campaign of political retribution.
“It would rip apart the fabric of our military,” McGrath warned, highlighting the severity of politicizing the armed forces. She questioned the ramifications of prosecuting military personnel simply because they disagreed with political leaders, stressing that many in the military serve with deep respect for the Constitution and maintain an apolitical stance.
McGrath further noted that such actions would create a “purity test” for high-ranking officers, where loyalty to the Constitution and their oath to defend the country would be questioned in favor of loyalty to political figures like Trump. “That’s going to make everybody up and down the chain of command wonder: Are the people in charge loyal to the Constitution? Or are they just loyal to Donald Trump?” she asked.
For McGrath and many other veterans, these concerns touch on the heart of military values, raising fears that such political purges could severely damage the cohesion and morale of the U.S. military, undermining its foundation as an institution devoted to national security and constitutional principles.