Pete Hegseth Becomes The Punchline After Botched Trump Joke Airs

Pete Hegseth took the spotlight on Thursday evening at Fox's Patriot Awards, intending to rally support for President Donald Trump, but his attempt quickly became a source of amusement on social media. The United States Secretary of War attempted a joke aimed at portraying Trump as astute and authoritative. However, his delivery faltered in New York City.Reflecting on a critical moment when U.S. bombers executed strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Hegseth clumsily stated, “That moment we realized that our bombers were out of Iran...” before fumbling through his thoughts. Once he regained composure, he added, “It was a fun moment when Donald Trump turned to his assistant and said, ‘Go get me my phone.’” He then made comical typing noises before declaring, “The world. Listen FAFO.”Despite initially struggling for laughs in previous speeches, the joke fell flat at the Patriots Award, receiving a mixed response from viewers who found it embarrassing. Many on social media expressed their disbelief, questioning the purpose of Fox's Patriot Awards and criticizing Hegseth's humor and credentials.