It’s a spectacle to behold as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth robustly countered Hillary Clinton’s critique. Clinton, notorious for her failed presidential bids, tried to jab at Hegseth via X, using a Gizmodo article titled, “Trump’s Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders Cyber Command to ‘Stand Down’ on All Russia Operations.”
In a diplomatic effort, the Trump Administration is keen on easing tensions with Russia, faced with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s rigid stance on peace negotiations. Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes moves to boost military presence, and Clinton, with her interventionist tendencies, seems intent on igniting Hegseth for his steps toward peace.
Wouldn’t want to hurt Putin’s feelings. https://t.co/rK69K8RCBD
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 2, 2025
The Gizmodo piece notes a shift in U.S. policy, claiming “the U.S. no longer considers Russia a significant cyber threat” due to a policy change under Trump’s administration. It’s reported through The Record that Hegseth has directed U.S. Cyber Command to “stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions,” a claim supported by three anonymous sources. However, these orders reportedly exempt the National Security Agency.
In a characteristic taunt, Hillary Clinton posted, “Wouldn’t want to hurt Putin’s feelings,” insinuating weakness on Hegseth’s part. A seasoned political figure, Hegseth hit back emphatically, sharing an infamous photo of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attempting to ‘reset’ U.S.-Russia relations with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This incident remains etched in memory, not only because of the “reset” initiative but also due to the translation blunder where “overcharge” replaced “reset.”
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 2, 2025
This is not Clinton’s sole infamous misstep. In March 2009, she declared the Obama Administration’s intent to push the reset button with Russia, yet ironically marred it with a lexical error that undercut the message’s intent.
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Then, in a 2014 NPR interview, Clinton praised the reset with Russia, stating, “the reset worked.” Yet, days later, her narrative shifted during a CNN chat with Fareed Zakaria, revealing she was “the most skeptical” of the reset policy.
Clinton’s tenure at the Department of State delivered enough turmoil, illustrated by her mixed signals and ultimate skepticism of her own strategies. Fortunately, America chose change in 2016, steering clear from more potential mishaps had she assumed the presidency, opting instead for the decidedly resolute leadership of President Trump.