Things got more than a little awkward for controversial Trump Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today when he flubbed, fumbled, and slurred his words while trying to recall and recite the nation’s motto — E pluribus unum — in a speech to United States troops.
Today, Hegseth spoke to US troops in a rowdy speech in Stuttgart, Germany, where he incessantly ranted on the topic of President Donald Trump’s disgusting and highly controversial executive order that served to end government diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices.
“Back to the basics,” Hegseth said. “It’s pretty simple principles and it’s, at the Pentagon so far, it was driving that culture change, which I know has led to a lot of changes in a short period of time.”
“And I have a great deal of respect for the manner in which our uniformed class has recognized the executive orders of new directors and said, hey, this is what we owe back to you,” the US Defense Secretary went on. “But I also recognize that in your formations, in your families, in your communities, that they lead to a lot of change or uncertainty.”
“And I just want to put a stop or emphasize that when it comes to the things you’ve seen, like reversing the DEI, things like that, that to me, again, is about getting back to basics.”
Hegseth went on to vow to “treat every single person, regardless of their background or their gender or where they came from or the color of their skin, the exact same.”
“[The military is] the forerunner of racial integration in this country,” he proclaimed. “That’s the message that we want coming out of the changes that are made.”
And then came the worst, most embarrassing part…
“E pluris — E — help me out,” the Defense Secretary fumbled, looking to the crowd to finish the motto for him as he awkwardly added, “E pluribus unum. I need a drink of water. Out of many, one. E pluribus unum.”
“So we’re going to, in every way, come alongside you to make sure in every way like the president said in his inaugural address: merit-based and colorblind,” he said.
Earlier this week, just before this awkward speech, Hegseth officially signed an order that served to restore the name of Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg in honor of Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, a man who was notorious for owning enslaved human beings.
Watch a clip of Hegseth’s speech here:
Featured image via screen capture