Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Caught Lying Under Oath About Troop Deployments at Polling Sites

In a stunning display of disregard for truth, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made false claims under oath before Congress about troop deployments during the 2024 midterm elections. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) asked if Hegseth would follow an unlawful order from former President Donald Trump to deploy troops at polling sites—a move that would violate federal law unless strict conditions were met. Hegseth responded by insisting Trump would never give such an order, then pivoted to accuse President Joe Biden of doing exactly that.

CNN fact checker Daniel Dale quickly dismantled Hegseth’s claim, reporting that all National Guard activations related to the election were ordered by state governors, not Biden. Moreover, none of the 11 states that responded to CNN’s inquiry deployed troops to polling places. Instead, Guard members supported election cybersecurity or served as internal liaisons, or were not activated at all.

The following day, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) confronted Hegseth with this evidence, but rather than recant, he stubbornly repeated the falsehood.

This episode is yet another example of the Trump administration’s Defense Department leadership engaging in misinformation and evasions while under oath. It underscores the urgent need for accountability at the highest levels of government, especially when it comes to protecting the integrity of American elections. Hegseth’s lies are not just embarrassing—they threaten democratic norms and public trust in the military’s role in domestic affairs.

We will continue to track and expose these abuses of power, because when officials lie under oath, democracy itself is at risk.