Multiple media outlets ran with a story on Wednesday claiming that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had demanded the addition of a make-up studio at the Pentagon where officials could prepare for media appearances.
CBS News White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs shared the news via X, posting, “News: @SecDef Hegseth recently ordered modifications to the green room next to the Pentagon press briefing room to add a makeup studio that can be used to prep for TV appearances, sources told @CBSNews. The price tag for the project was several thousand dollars. The space previously had minimal furnishings. A new director-style chair and large mirror with makeup lighting was installed. Hegseth has used the briefing room for Fox News hits.”
It was not until the very end of the post that Jacobs qualified her assertions with a quote from a spokesperson, who confirmed only that the green room had been updated, but added, “For this upgrade we were deliberately conservative and opted for several less expensive, on-hand materiel solutions.”
The @DODRapidResponse account fired back with a photo of the updated green room, adding, “Does the fake news NOT have anything better to do? 1. No lighted mirror. 2. It didn’t cost thousands. 3. The items that were added to the GREEN ROOM (not a makeup studio) came from existing inventory. This story is TRASH!”
Does the fake news NOT have anything better to do?
1. No lighted mirror.
2. It didn't cost thousands.
3. The items that were added to the GREEN ROOM (not a makeup studio) came from existing inventory.This story is TRASH! https://t.co/hOrF5VNqcg pic.twitter.com/FQzXX4QgpW
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) April 23, 2025
Defense Secretary Hegseth also took aim at CBS News, suggesting that he might have gotten more favorable media coverage if he’d installed tampon dispensers in the Pentagon men’s rooms.
“1) Totally fake story. No ‘orders’ and no ‘makeup’ — but whatever. 2) We should have installed tampon machines in every men’s bathroom at DoD instead — the leftist ‘news’ media would have loved that,” he said.
1) Totally fake story. No “orders” and no “makeup” — but whatever.
2) We should have installed tampon machines in every men’s bathroom at DoD instead — the leftist “news” media would have loved that. https://t.co/7LypyVObXJ
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 23, 2025
Chief Pentagon spokesman and Army Ranger veteran Sean Parnell added, “This story is 100% Fake News.”
This story is 100% Fake News. https://t.co/ya8hXPeZhh
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) April 24, 2025
Still, numerous outlets went on to claim that Hegseth had demanded a “make-up studio” at the Pentagon — but while media persisted in chasing the fake story, it was business as usual at the Department of Defense.
Hegseth continued to push an end to “woke” policies and programs, saying, “No more social engineering. No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks. No more gender confusion. No more pronouns. No more excuses. No more quotas. No more WOKE bulls*** that undermines commanders and command climates. We are laser focused on our mission of warfighting.”
. @SecDef "No more social engineering. No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks. No more gender confusion. No more pronouns. No more excuses. No more quotas.
No more WOKE bullsh*t that undermines commanders and command climates. We are laser focused on our mission… pic.twitter.com/02v9OTHDij
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) April 23, 2025
Army recruitment announced that it was six full months ahead of schedule with regard to 2025 goals.
SIX MONTHS ahead of schedule. pic.twitter.com/Ho6f6xnbB4
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 24, 2025
And U.S. military forces overseas continued the onslaught against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists.
Continuous 24/7 operations against Iran-backed Houthis from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/lh5DpvdCOR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 23, 2025
