In late October 2025, a rumor that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s title changed to “CEO of War” circulated online. The rumor alleged he pitched a “‘full-blown tantrum’ during a cabinet meeting” and shouted “Secretary is a lady job!”
For example, political analyst and commentator Bill Kristol posted the rumor (archived) on X on Oct. 29, 2025:
“The Pentagon announced today that former Secretary of Defense/former Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will now hold the title CEO of War, following what officials described as a ‘full-blown tantrum’ during a cabinet meeting. ‘Secretary is a lady job!…'”
Kristol’s post had garnered 919,300 views and 8,500 likes as of this writing. The same words appeared on Facebook as well.
Some readers seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. Yet searches on several search engines revealed there was no evidence that Hegseth’s title had changed after U.S. President Donald Trump renamed the Department of Defense to “Department of War” in a Sept. 5, 2025, executive order.
The only reference to the rumor Hegseth had changed his title of secretary of war to CEO of war was an Oct. 29, 2025, story by the Duffel Blog — a website that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. Its About page states:
Duffel Blog is the first and only satire news outlet devoted to the U.S. military and national security community. At a time of increasing global conflict and crisis, our team of military veteran writers provides much-needed levity on serious topics and help to remind everyone — especially those in the trenches — that a lighthearted jab or a well-placed joke can go a long way.
Snopes has debunked several satirical claims stemming from the Duffel Blog in the past, including the assertion that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an agency of the Department of Home Security, had deported a Marine Corps sergeant major and a rumor that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had mobilized the National Guard to pick fruit.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.
