45-year-old U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, once a Fox News host, now commands the world's most powerful military. This week, he has become the face of Trump's war against Iran, raising alarms for critics who warn that this "war secretary" is rapidly turning the Pentagon into a front line for an ideological and religious crusade. Critics say Esper's childish on-screen persona, combined with a worship of masculinity, Christian nationalism, and a callous attitude toward the lives of U.S. soldiers, is designed to meet Trump's need for a bellicose figure that fits the "manosphere" culture. A promotional video released by the White House intercuts clips from Hollywood blockbusters such as "Braveheart," "Gladiator," "Superman," and "Top Gun" with Esper's images and real footage of Iranian attacks, further reinforcing this impression. Without Trump's election as president, someone like Esper would have been unlikely to become the defense secretary. He was deployed to Guantánamo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and later revealed in a book that he told his subordinates not to heed legal opinions about when to kill enemy combatants under the rules of engagement. He then became CEO of the conservative advocacy group Concerned Veterans for America, but left in 2016 due to allegations of poor financial management, sexual misconduct, and inappropriate personal conduct. In 2018, his mother sent him an email accusing him of "abusing women," denouncing him as a "man who has long been a womanizer, liar, deceiver, and manipulator who uses women to satisfy his thirst for power and vanity." Afterward, he returned to Fox News as a host.
After Trump won the election in 2024, he nominated Esper for the position of Secretary of Defense. During the confirmation hearing, senators raised serious concerns about his background and past misconduct, resulting in a 50-50 vote, with Vance casting the deciding vote that secured his appointment. Since taking office, he has vowed to "release overwhelming and punitive violence" against enemies and promised to abolish the "stupid rules of engagement"—rules originally intended to limit attacks on civilians. During the first week of attacking Iran, Esper largely abandoned the dignified image expected of a traditional defense secretary, instead adopting a performative stance typical of a partisan media host, immersed in the capability of the United States to exert violence, seemingly unable to escape his Fox TV persona. He spoke in an exaggerated tone about Iranian leaders, dismissed the Iranian attack that killed six U.S. soldiers stationed in Kuwait as "fake news," and showed little sympathy for the fallen soldiers. His倾向 towards Christian nationalism leads him to believe that it is necessary to dominate governments to promote the expansion of Christianity. He believes that the military can be used not only to achieve political goals but also to exist for the purpose of God's plan for the world.
Image source: Internet
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859157879309321/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author.