The White House’s X account removed a promotional video that falsely claimed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had earned “the Bronze Star Medal for valor.”
The video appeared soon after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday giving the Department of Defense the secondary title of “Department of War.” In a post celebrating the change, the White House shared a video highlighting Hegseth’s military service, describing him as “an officer in the United States Army National Guard. A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. Recipient of the Bronze Star medal for valor. A warrior. A leader. And a patriot.”
The video was swiftly taken down after journalists debunked the claim. While Hegseth did receive two Bronze Star medals during his service, they were awarded for meritorious service, not valor, according to Associated Press reporter Konstantin Toropin.
The Bronze Star is the fourth-highest military award a service member can receive. It can be given for valor, meritorious service, or achievement. Hegseth’s medals reflect commendable performance during his military career, but awards for valor specifically recognize acts of heroism in combat. Bronze Stars for valor are marked with a special “V” to distinguish them from other types of awards.
The White House deleted this video that falsely claimed Pete Hegseth was awarded “the Bronze Star Medal for valor.”
Hegseth was awarded two Bronze Star Medals for *meritorious service* NOT acts of heroism in combat. #StolenValor pic.twitter.com/9QtVmRLhG9
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) September 6, 2025
Social media users quickly reposted the clip to highlight the administration’s error.
“That video misleads the public, disrespects those who’ve earned valor citations, and weaponizes military honor for political branding,” one person wrote.
Pete Hegseth was awarded two Bronze Star medals for meritorious service. AL DRAGO/Pool/REUTERS
“Deleting the video was the right move, but it should never have been posted with that false claim,” another added. “Words matter. Valor and meritorious service are not interchangeable—especially to those who risked their lives under fire. Inflating Pete’s record, even by mistake, disrespects those whose Bronze Stars were earned in combat.”
Hegseth has embraced the “Department of War” rebranding, promoting the change in a video while reading awkwardly from a script.
“This name change is not just about renaming; it’s about restoring,” Hegseth said. “It’s going to fight to win, not not to lose [sic]. We’re going on offense, not just on defense.”
It’s worth noting that the “Department of War” is only a secondary title—the president cannot unilaterally rename a government department. Any permanent change would require approval from Congress.
