U.S.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been given a nickname, and it’s not a very nice one.This name shows that there’s increasing tension between him and experienced military personnel, as he pushes for higher standards for troops.
Inside the Pentagon, someone has leaked a new nickname for Hegseth, highlighting the growing disagreement between him and career military officers.
Military personnel and Pentagon workers are reportedly calling him “No Tab Pete.” This name refers to his military uniform from when he served as a major in the Army National Guard.
The nickname points out that Hegseth’s uniform doesn’t have specialized combat skill patches—like the Ranger or Sapper tabs—that are usually earned by top combat leaders, according to The Daily Beast.
This comes after a TV personality shared a disturbing two-word comment from Trump in his limo that left her scared.
Career military leaders have reportedly been frustrated with Hegseth’s efforts to change physical fitness rules and his push to replace some senior officers.
This is the second nickname to be leaked about him from within the Pentagon.
Earlier, Pentagon staff called him “Dumb McNamara,” comparing him to Robert McNamara, a Defense Secretary from the Vietnam era, to criticize his tough stance on conflicts in the Middle East.
Hegseth is now dealing with the challenge of making policy changes while facing resistance from military professionals inside the Pentagon.
In the Army, tabs like Ranger or Sapper are seen as symbols of elite leadership, strength, and advanced skills.
Hegseth has criticized the military establishment in his book, *The War on Warriors*, and advocates for a strong, combat-focused military culture.
Insiders use the nickname to point out a perceived double standard—suggesting he wants an elite standard from soldiers but didn’t earn those same elite qualifications during his own service.
Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard and was deployed to high-risk areas like Iraq and Afghanistan.
His uniform has two Bronze Star Medals and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), which shows he had frontline combat experience.
Since these nicknames are used by Pentagon staff behind his back, Hegseth hasn’t directly responded to them or said whether they bother him.
However, reports from inside the Department of Defense suggest that these leaks show a stressful environment full of internal conflict and fear.
Pentagon officials have said that Hegseth has developed a lot of “insecurity and paranoia” about opposition inside the department.
About the Author
The military is much nicer with their nicknames for Keghead than I am.