Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is not a fan of facial hair.

Despite whispers that the former Fox News host had a drinking problem, President Donald Trump recruited Hegseth, 46, to work in his second-term Cabinet.

Backed by the MAGA movement, Hegseth and the Trump administration have embraced sweeping social changes.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire once again for his interaction with a Black armed services veteran. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Hegseth initially pushed for restrictions on beards in the armed forces. New shaving requirements became central to his tenure leading the Defense Department.

Most active-duty service members must meet the SecDef’s grooming standards, with exceptions for religious and medical reasons.

‘Why Didn’t He Salute the Black Man?’: Pete Hegseth Has Awkward Exchange with Air Force Chief and Instantly Gets Roasted By the Internet

Hegseth was recently forced to confront a bearded veteran. On Aug. 26, he presented special awards to three Marines stationed in Afghanistan in 2021.

The government honored retired Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Eby,  retired Cpl. Michael Gretzon, and retired Lance Cpl. Jordan Houston for their actions during a bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

At one point during the Pentagon ceremony, Houston joined Hegseth onstage to receive the Bronze Star Medal with V device for valor.

Once Houston turned toward the cameras, his short beard and mustache became visible. Hegseth’s lips appeared to curl, giving off a feeling of contempt or disgust. 

Hegseth and Houston ended the encounter by shaking hands and posing together for pictures. Unlike with Eby and Gretzon, the secretary did not applaud for Houston after pinning his medal.

One Threads user mocked the moment, saying that seeing a Black man with a full beard receive an award would be a “Kegbreath nightmare. They added, “He’s totally intimidated.”

Another person wrote, “The look on SecDef face says it all. This Marine was getting an award at the Pentagon- you know he hate beards.”

Someone else declared, “It is deeper than the beard, literally.”

“He looked so uncomfortable. Why do Black people make white people so uncomfortable? You would think we kept them locked up for 400 years,” a poster pointed out. 

An additional Threads user exclaimed, “Ooooooh!! Little Peter is pissed.”

“Whiskey Pete’s body language says it all. Congratulations to the Marine receiving this award,” posted one individual on the platform.

Hegseth laid out his anti-beard agenda in September 2025. He used a summit with hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals to proclaim that “the era of unprofessional appearance” is over.

“No more beardos,” Hegseth told the military leaders. The Afghanistan War veteran has also called the phrase “diversity is our strength” the “single dumbest phrase in military history.” 

Hegseth’s attacks on diversity and push to ban DEI efforts have fueled accusations of bias against non-white people.

Those allegations of Hegseth having bigoted views took center stage back in March.

Critics accused the Princeton University graduate of deliberately not saluting a Black Central Command officer.

He also faces backlash over several scandals, including his dismissal of reported poor conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Trump’s Defense Secretary was also caught up in the Signalgate controversy.

News broke in March 2025 that Hegseth and other top security officials used the non-secure messaging app Signal to discuss planned U.S. military strikes on Yemen.

‘His Face Says It All’: Hegseth’s Mood Was Already Showing Before He Honored Black Marine — Then Fans Zoom In on What Seemed to Set Him Off Even More