The Defense Department issued a rare denial after online observers questioned whether Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was chewing gum during a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base. Officials stated unequivocally that the secretary followed proper decorum while honoring fallen troops.
Pete Hegseth wasn’t chewing gum, says Pentagon
The Pentagon directly addressed Pete Hegseth’s chewing gum speculation after a video showed the defense secretary coming to the Wednesday’s ceremony with noticeable jaw movement. Social media users quickly questioned whether Hegseth was chewing gum during the solemn event honoring six service members killed in the Iran war.
“This reporting is inaccurate,” the Defense Department told The Daily Beast when asked about the incident. Hegseth stood alongside President Donald Trump, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Den Caine, and House Speaker Mike Johnson as the remains of six troops arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The service members died in a KC-135 refueling plane crash over Iraqi airspace last week. Military officials confirmed the incident was not caused by hostile fire and remains under investigation. The fallen include Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons.
Retired Lt. Col. Ernesto Nisperos, who knew one of the victims, told The Associated Press: “Every person on that aircraft carried a weight most Americans will never see, and they carried it with professionalism, courage, and a level of quiet excellence that deserves to be recognized.”
Family members of the deceased requested that the media not be present during the dignified transfer. The White House later released official photos on X, providing the only public images from the event. The Pentagon confirmed the ceremony followed all standard protocols.
However, the Trump administration has faced criticism over military honors before. Earlier this month, Donald Trump wore a white baseball cap with ‘USA’ lettering during a dignified transfer for soldiers killed in a Kuwait drone attack. Critics viewed the casual attire as disrespectful.
