The Trump administration is facing a fresh wave of online ridicule after Jake and Logan Paul visited the Pentagon, met Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and spoke to U.S. military personnel ahead of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
The Department of Defense, which has adopted “Department of War” branding on its X account, posted video from the September 17 visit on Saturday. “Last Thursday, we welcomed Logan and Jake Paul to the Pentagon to meet with our warriors,” the account wrote. Footage showed the brothers touring the building, posing with Hegseth, visiting the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial and addressing a room of uniformed service members and civilian staff.
Logan told the audience there was “no greater commitment to sacrifice” than being prepared to “live, die and fight” for the country. Jake praised the military members in attendance, saying they should be proud of their work and calling the United States “the greatest country in the world.”
Trump Administration Mocked After Pete Hegseth Hosts Jake and Logan Paul at Pentagon
In the department’s polished video, the pair also laughed and posed with Hegseth while music played over clips of the visit. Deputy Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez said the Pauls toured the building, paid respects at the 9/11 memorial, thanked service members and briefly met Hegseth. The department said it appreciated their “continued support” of the military, though it has not publicly given a detailed explanation for why the brothers were selected for the appearance.
That gap did not help the reaction. Critics on X, Reddit and in comment sections questioned why two internet personalities were used for a military-facing appearance, particularly during a week linked to the annual observance for prisoners of war and troops missing in action. “What the fuck is this administration,” read one widely shared reaction. Another commenter, identifying as a veteran, said they initially believed the footage was an SNL-style parody before realizing it was genuine.
Other users called the event “a clown show,” said it looked like an attempt to make the country appear unserious, and argued that active-duty troops deserved speakers with direct military experience. One post summed up the mood: “Why the f-ck are online influencers giving speeches to the military?”
The volume and tone of those responses reflected a basic disconnect between the Pentagon’s attempt at a morale-focused celebrity visit and an audience that saw the choice as a poor fit. Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger wrote that the U.S. was “not a serious country at the moment,” while journalist Philip DeFranco said the administration was finding “a new unexpected way” to embarrass the country. Atlantic writer Tom Nichols made a sarcastic reference to the U.S. conflict with Iran, posting, “The Iranians are terrified.”
Jake moved from YouTube fame into boxing and promotion, co-founding Most Valuable Promotions with Nakisa Bidarian. His professional boxing career has been built around major pay-per-view events and crossover fights, while his latest reported bout ended with Anthony Joshua stopping him by knockout, leaving Jake with a broken jaw. Logan, meanwhile, became a regular WWE performer after signing with the company and has competed in high-profile matches at events including WrestleMania and Crown Jewel. He has also boxed professionally, including his 2018 bout with KSI and an exhibition against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Paul brothers recently expanded their business footprint again, landing a combat-sports competition series with Hulu and ESPN through Jake’s Most Valuable Promotions and Wheelhouse. Their political proximity has also drawn attention.
Logan hosted Donald Trump on his “Impaulsive” podcast during the 2024 campaign, while Trump publicly praised Jake during talk of a possible future political run.
