VIDEO: Obama mocks Hegseth’s focus on soldiers’ jawlines and testosterone

Former U.S. President Barack Obama criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a campaign appearance in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, joking about his emphasis on military personnel’s physical appearance and testosterone levels.

Obama was campaigning for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. His remarks targeted several Republican figures and recent controversies as he urged Ohio voters to support the Democratic candidates.

“You’ve got the defense secretary … he’s very focused on important matters like the jawlines and testosterone levels of our troops,” Obama said.

The former president also questioned how much attention Hegseth paid to his own appearance, asking, “How much time do you think this defense secretary spends looking at himself in the mirror in the morning?”

Hegseth has drawn criticism from Democrats over his approach to military culture and his handling of the war with Iran. He has referred to the military as “low-T” and mandated testosterone screenings for male service members under 30, according to reports cited by The Hill.

Obama argued that the defense secretary’s focus on these issues was distracting from more pressing national security concerns and contributing to the prolonged conflict with Iran.

Democrats weigh Hegseth’s future

Obama’s comments come as some Senate Democrats are reportedly considering whether to seek Hegseth’s removal after the November 3 elections, potentially linking cooperation on defense-related issues during the post-election lame-duck session to changes in Pentagon leadership.

According to Senate sources cited by The Hill, the proposal could receive some Republican support. No decision to remove Hegseth was announced in the report.

Obama won Ohio in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, making him the most recent Democratic presidential nominee to carry the state in the account cited by the report.