Oct 22, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Exclusive: Hegseth's military speech a "waste of time," Panetta says

April Rubin

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta speaks at the Axios Future of Defense Summit on Oct. 22. Photo: Eric Lee on behalf of Axios

Calling top military leaders to Quantico for a political speech was a "waste of time," former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Wednesday at Axios' Future of Defense Summit.

Why it matters: President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would have been better served using that gathering of top generals and admirals to prepare for 21st Century threats, Panetta said.

Instead, Panetta told Axios' Colin Demarest that military leaders were treated to a "recruiting speech" and complaints about "cultural issues."
"Hell no," Panetta responded when asked if he would have called that meeting.

Zoom out: Panetta served as the 23rd defense secretary from July 2011 to February 2013 under former President Obama.

He previously served as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Context: Panetta lifted the military's ban on women in combat in 2013. Hegseth has disparaged women in the military.

In September, Panetta reacted to Trump's renaming of the Defense Department to the War Department: "A name change has nothing to do with the strength of our military."

Go deeper: Watch: Axios Future of Defense Summit

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Exclusive: Hegseth's military speech a "waste of time," Panetta says

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