Pete Hegseth Mocked for Dramatic Drone Promo Video That’s Being Compared to an SNL Skit

In what many are calling a cringeworthy moment of political theater, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has become the subject of online ridicule after starring in a new Department of Defense promotional video designed to showcase American drone capabilities.

The video, released Friday and titled “Unleashing US Military Drone Dominance,” features Hegseth delivering a speech while surrounded by buzzing drones. At one point, he reaches up to grab a memo delivered by a drone, which he dramatically signs on camera.

“Today I’m rescinding restrictive policies that stifle production, and this will unleash American manufacturing and the engineering of our warfighters by doing three key things,” Hegseth declares over the sound of hovering drones.

“First, we’re going to bolster the US drone manufacturing base by producing thousands of American-made products, prioritizing ‘buy American.’ We’re arming combat units with a variety of low-cost, American-crafted drones, leveraging our world-leading engineers and AI experts.

And third, we’re going to train as we expect to fight. Senior officers must overcome bureaucratic risk aversion in budgeting, weaponing, weaponeering, and training.”

He closes with a bold message: “This is the future. We’re going to fight, we’re going to fight to win it, and we’re never going to back down.”

While the message was intended to signal strength and innovation, the video quickly became viral for all the wrong reasons. The visual of Hegseth theatrically interacting with drones, combined with a version of the footage soundtracked by Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” was quickly mocked as being more suited to a parody sketch than an official government announcement.

While the message was intended to signal strength and innovation, the video quickly became viral for all the wrong reasons.

Department of Defense

Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, shared the video online with a stunned reaction, highlighting the strange mix of high-budget visuals and what many considered low-impact substance.

The backlash is part of a broader pattern critics have noted regarding the Trump administration’s approach to social media and public messaging. From sharing doctored images of Trump as Superman to controversial tweets targeting immigrants, the administration’s communications strategy often walks a fine line between bold and bizarre.

Former politicians and commentators didn’t hold back in their responses either. Former Missouri senator Claire McCaskill tweeted, urging Hegseth to “quit playing for the cameras and do your job.” Former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh criticized both Hegseth and Trump, calling them “shallow, unserious people” and accusing them of turning critical defense policy into performance art.

Understanding the Psychology of Ridicule

When we look at the reaction to this video, it's important to understand the psychological mechanisms behind ridicule. According to Dr. Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology, "Ridicule often serves as a social tool to reinforce norms and discourage behaviors that deviate from accepted standards." This suggests that the public's widespread mockery of the video might be an attempt to discourage similar types of political theater in the future, as people seek to maintain a sense of social order.

The backlash is part of a broader pattern critics have noted when it comes to the Trump administration’s approach to social media and public messaging

CNN political commentator Adam Kinzinger also weighed in, pointing out that Ukraine has been instrumental in sharing drone-related intelligence with the United States. His comments seemed to suggest that the flashy nature of the video detracted from the real-world complexity and cooperation involved in drone warfare.

Online, viewers were quick to turn the video into meme material. The moment Hegseth reaches for the floating memo has already been repurposed as a template for jokes, with many drawing comparisons to Saturday Night Live sketches.

One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “This is embarrassing,” while another said, “This looks like an SNL skit from their military spoof era.”

Online, viewers were quick to turn the video into meme material.

SNL

The promotional push follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump last month aimed at expanding U.S. drone development and export. The order describes unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) as essential for American productivity and innovation.

It states, “The United States must accelerate the safe commercialization of drone technologies and fully integrate UAS into the National Airspace System. The time has come to accelerate testing and to enable routine drone operations, scale up domestic production, and expand the export of trusted, American-manufactured drone technologies to global markets.Building a strong and secure domestic drone sector is vital to reducing reliance on foreign sources, strengthening critical supply chains, and ensuring that the benefits of this technology are delivered to the American people.”

Still, the dramatic tone of Hegseth’s video has distracted many from that core message. Critics argue the rollout could have taken a more grounded approach, focusing on policy impact rather than theatrics.

For now, the internet is doing what it does best: turning awkward government moments into memes, while many viewers are left wondering whether Defense leadership should focus less on optics and more on substance.

The psychological theory of Social Comparison, developed by Dr. Shawn Achor, a positive psychology researcher, can also be applied to understand the reactions. Achor states, "We are wired to compare ourselves to others, and this can significantly influence our self-perception." This theory suggests that people have an innate drive to evaluate their own opinions and abilities, often in comparison to others. In this instance, the video may have triggered a process of upward comparison, where viewers compared the video's perceived lack of authenticity with their own ideas of genuine and effective communication.

Impact of Social Media on Perception

The rapid spread of mockery and comparison to an SNL skit also highlights the role of social media in shaping public perception. According to Dr. Shawn Achor, a positive psychology researcher, "Social media can amplify our emotions, making both positive and negative sentiments more intense and widespread." This phenomenon can significantly impact the public image of individuals and organizations, as noted by Dr. Susan David, an expert on emotional agility, who states, "In today's digital landscape, the rapid sharing of information can blur the lines of personal reputation, leading to swift and sometimes harsh judgments." The implications of this rapid dissemination of information are profound and far-reaching.

Analysis & Alternative Approaches

In conclusion, the public's reaction to Hegseth's video is a complex interplay of psychological principles, including the use of ridicule as a social tool, social comparison, and the influence of social media on perception. Dr. Robert Cialdini, an expert in influence and persuasion, notes, "Understanding how social dynamics operate can help public figures navigate their messaging more effectively." As our understanding of these phenomena continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important for public figures and organizations to be mindful of these dynamics in their communication strategies. (Dr. Robert Cialdini, influence researcher)