MSNBC Hack Cries That Pete Hegseth’s Classic Military Phrase Isn’t “Inclusive” Enough [WATCH]

MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell raised objections to remarks made by War Secretary Pete Hegseth during a recent White House briefing, focusing on the use of the phrase “we leave no man behind” in reference to a U.S. military rescue operation, as reported by Fox News.

O’Donnell addressed the comments on his program, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” where he discussed what he described as changes in military language and how those changes reflect broader participation in the armed forces.

“That is, of course, the old school version of the idea back when only men flew American military planes,” O’Donnell said.

He argued that updated language better reflects the current composition of the military, including the role of women in combat operations.

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“The general knows, unlike Pete Hegseth, that that could have been a woman they were trying to rescue,” O’Donnell said. “It might be a woman the next time.”

O’Donnell also expanded his remarks to address the historical application of the phrase, stating that the concept has not always been reflected in past military conflicts.

“This 21st century notion that we leave no one behind ignores the 120,000 prisoners of war held by German and Japanese forces in World War II,” O’Donnell said, adding that those individuals were “left behind” for extended periods.

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He also referenced the Vietnam War, citing the experience of the late Sen. John McCain.

“In Vietnam, we left John McCain behind,” O’Donnell said, noting that McCain was captured and held as a prisoner of war for five years.

O’Donnell connected those remarks to statements made by President Donald Trump during his first presidential campaign.

“When reminded that John McCain was a war hero, Donald Trump said he’s not a war hero,” O’Donnell said, quoting Trump’s remark, “‘I like people who weren’t captured.’”

The MSNBC host also commented on differences between modern military rescue efforts and those of earlier conflicts, noting the scale and immediacy of current operations.

“The idea of using 155 aircraft and hundreds of military personnel on an immediate rescue mission for a single person… was inconceivable in World War II or in Vietnam,” he said.

O’Donnell framed his criticism around what he described as a gap between the phrase’s use and historical realities.

“The idea… ignores history,” he said.

The remarks came as part of a broader discussion about a recent U.S. military rescue operation referenced during a White House briefing, though specific operational details were not expanded upon during the segment.

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