A former Air Force member in North Carolina is facing criticism online over a comment joking about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth being executed.
An X user @libsoftiktok shared screenshots of a comment allegedly made by the former Air Force member. The screenshots included his first and last name and a photo of him. His LinkedIn profile also listed him as a former United States Air Force member, with service from 2017 to 2026, about eight years and five months.
The former member’s comment was allegedly posted under a post titled “Hegseth says public can watch execution.” The post referred to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s reported announcement that the public would be able to watch the planned execution of Nidal Hasan, a former U.S. Army major convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas. Hegseth reportedly said the execution would be carried out by firing squad, with a livestream allowing the public to watch. The execution was reportedly scheduled for December 3, 2026, at Fort Hood.
The man’s alleged comment under the post read, “Pete’s being executed?? Where do we watch‼.” The remark drew criticism from viewers who interpreted it as expressing enthusiasm for the possibility of violence against a government official. The comment appeared to play on the wording of the post’s headline, which could be read as suggesting that Hegseth himself was being executed. Some viewers interpreted the remark as a joke about the headline, while others viewed it as expressing support for violence against Hegseth. The reference was particularly controversial because the original post concerned the planned execution of a former Army major convicted of killing 13 people, rather than a government official.
Viewers Outraged Over Former North Carolina Air Force Member’s Alleged Comment
Many viewers criticized the alleged comment. Some commenters believed the man was still on active duty and called for military consequences. However, the LinkedIn profile attributed to him lists his Air Force service as ending in 2026. “You can watch it on the corner of dishonorable discharge and go [expletive] yourself that’s where,” one person wrote. Another commenter predicted, “Won’t be long before he’s dishonorably discharged. @SecWar isn’t going to tolerate this.”
More viewers weighed in on the controversy, with one person criticizing the former member and writing, “Active-duty Air Force, casually asking where to watch the Secretary of War get executed. They scream the military is ‘extremist,’ then keep guys like this on payroll.” However, others argued the comment was misinterpreted. “Some of you are homeschooled I take it? He’s being sarcastic because the title Of the article is poorly written. It’s a joke about the title,” another person wrote.
The alleged comment sparked debate over how seriously such remarks should be taken. This matters even more when it comes from someone with a military background. Some believed the former member should face consequences if the comment were intended to express support for violence. Others argued that the sarcastic tone and wording of the original post should be considered before drawing conclusions.
