Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire after a military spectacle at a college football game turned fatal. Critics are connecting the tragic incident to Hegseth’s push for a renewed “warrior ethos” within the armed forces.
Critics link the fatal UTSA demonstration to Pete Hegseth’s military messaging
An airman died after falling during a rappelling demonstration at a college football game in Texas, The Daily Beast reported. The service member fell from the rafters at the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Salute to Armed Forces & Veterans game. The airman later died at a hospital, according to a Nellis Air Force Base spokesperson.
The rappelling team belonged to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, per Task & Purpose. The unit trains Tactical Air Control Party airmen, who help coordinate air support for ground forces. Authorities have not yet released the airman’s name.
UTSA released a statement expressing condolences after the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at the start of tonight’s football game. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the soldier who was affected, his family and his military colleagues,” a university spokesperson wrote on social media.
The incident prompted criticism from political commentators who questioned military demonstrations at sporting events and directed criticism at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Although Hegseth has championed a renewed “warrior ethos” within the armed forces, rappelling demonstrations have long been part of UTSA’s annual military appreciation game. The reporting does not establish that Hegseth was involved in organizing or approving Saturday’s display.
Jackie Singh, an aide on President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, directed her criticism at Hegseth on X (formerly Twitter). “Thanks @PeteHegseth @SecWar for yet another pointless and tragic recruiting spectacle,” Singh wrote.
Democratic strategist Chris D. Jackson called the demonstration “absolutely sickening” on X. “This ridiculous military showboating at football games needs to STOP,” Jackson wrote. He added that “a man could lose his life, all because some Hegseth-like official apparently thought putting on a macho spectacle for people who came to watch FOOTBALL was a brilliant idea.” Jackson further stated that service members are “NOT props for someone’s political theater.”
Responding to the criticism, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said it was “disgraceful that anyone would use the tragic death of a service member to try to score political points.”
The Air Force said the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall remain under investigation.
