White Home Deletes Video With Weird Stolen Valor Declare

[ad_1] The White Home’s X account deleted a promotional video that falsely claimed Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth obtained “the Bronze Star Medal for valor.”

The Hegseth video got here after President Donald Trump signed an govt order on Friday that gave the Division of Protection the secondary title of “Division of Battle.” To have a good time the change, the White Home posted a video boasting about Hegseth’s navy report, calling him “an officer in america Military Nationwide Guard. A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. Recipient of the Bronze Star medal for valor. A warrior. A frontrunner. And a patriot.”

The video was taken down as quickly as journalists debunked the declare that Hegseth had obtained the Bronze Star Medal for valor. Hegseth did obtain two Bronze Star medals throughout his service—not for valor however for meritorious service, in line with Related Press journalist Konstantin Toropin.

The White Home deleted this video that falsely claimed Pete Hegseth was awarded “the Bronze Star Medal for valor.”

Hegseth was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for *meritorious service* NOT acts of heroism in fight. #StolenValor pic.twitter.com/9QtVmRLhG9

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) September 6, 2025

The Bronze Star medal is taken into account the fourth-highest rating award a service member can obtain. It may be granted for valor, advantage, and achievement.

Hegseth’s awards mirror commendable efficiency throughout his time serving, however medals of valor require acts of heroism throughout fight. The excellence is so vital that Bronze stars for valor are marked with a particular “V.”

Customers on social media have reposted the video to spotlight the administration’s blunder.

“That video misleads the general public, disrespects those that’ve earned valor citations, and weaponizes navy honor for political branding,” one consumer stated.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on, during a visit to greet members of the National Guard, at Union Station in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 20, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/RLAWZW3PKBCUFLGUKI2SYIVDJY.JPG?auth=fec78e431d14edf6d2de57048f83e81889eb3b8f35b2f0c3d63754382e547781&width=800&height=450" srcset="https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/RLAWZW3PKBCUFLGUKI2SYIVDJY.JPG?auth=fec78e431d14edf6d2de57048f83e81889eb3b8f35b2f0c3d63754382e547781&width=274&height=154 274w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/RLAWZW3PKBCUFLGUKI2SYIVDJY.JPG?auth=fec78e431d14edf6d2de57048f83e81889eb3b8f35b2f0c3d63754382e547781&width=400&height=225 400w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/RLAWZW3PKBCUFLGUKI2SYIVDJY.JPG?auth=fec78e431d14edf6d2de57048f83e81889eb3b8f35b2f0c3d63754382e547781&width=768&height=432 768w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/RLAWZW3PKBCUFLGUKI2SYIVDJY.JPG?auth=fec78e431d14edf6d2de57048f83e81889eb3b8f35b2f0c3d63754382e547781&width=1024&height=576 1024w, https://www.thedailybeast.com/resizer/v2/RLAWZW3PKBCUFLGUKI2SYIVDJY.JPG?auth=fec78e431d14edf6d2de57048f83e81889eb3b8f35b2f0c3d63754382e547781&width=1440&height=810 1440w" width="800" height="450"/> Pete Hegseth obtained two Bronze star medals for meritorious service. AL DRAGO/Al Drago/Pool/REUTERS “Deleting the video was the appropriate name, nevertheless it by no means ought to’ve been posted with that false declare to start with. Phrases matter. Valor and meritorious service are usually not the identical, particularly to those that’ve really risked their lives beneath hearth. Pete inflating his report, even by mistake, disrespects these whose Bronze Stars have been earned within the warmth of battle,” one other chimed in.

Hegseth has jumped on the “Division of Battle” bandwagon, touting the identify change in a promo video whereas awkwardly studying from a script.

“This identify change is not only about renaming; it’s about restoring,” Hegseth stated. “It’s going to battle to win, not to not lose [sic]. We’re going to go on offense, not simply on protection.”

The identify change is a secondary title provided that the president doesn't have the ability to rename a authorities division. Congress should approve any identify change.