Knocking Hegseth SecDef Nomination, Morning Joe Misleads on Female Fitness

Attempting to undercut Trump's nomination of Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, Morning Joe misled on the key issue of the physical fitness of female soldiers. After playing a clip of Hegseth expressing his opposition to women in combat, the show brought on NBC national security editor David Rohde, who said: "I think clips like the one you played will raise major issues. There are women in combat. And women who engage in ground combat have to take physical tests. Can they pick up and carry another soldier who is wounded is one of them." Rohde's statement implies that female soldiers would be capable to "pick up and carry" a wounded soldier just like a male soldier can. That's not true. As explained in this AP article: "Army eases fitness test standards for women, older troops," in 2022: "The Army has scrapped its move to have a physical fitness test that is gender-and age-neutral, and will now allow women and older soldiers to pass while meeting some reduced standards." In particular, women will not be required to drag as much weight, or run as fast, as men. Consider how that could affect outcomes when women carrywounded soldiers off the battlefield.