Tom Nichols: selection criteria will "crush the Iranians"
Tom NicholsStaff writer, The Atlantic
Tom Nichols sarcastically said the selection of fit, well-groomed troops for the speech audience would "crush the Iranians."
“Well, that'll crush the Iranians”
Original post
Where this statement fits
Were the Pentagon's Fitness and Grooming Requirements for Hegseth's Speech Appropriate?
Ahead of a "State of the Force" address scheduled for September 30, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emailed U.S. Army commanders asking them to nominate service members who meet the Army's waist-to-height ratio and fitness-test standards, along with "impeccable grooming and uniform standards (no exception)" and other performance criteria, for the chance to attend and join him for a workout, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The Pentagon declined to comment on the request when contacted by multiple outlets; the directive drew public criticism and mockery from several commentators.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Tom Nichols's own reply, on X, to Wall Street Journal reporter Lara Seligman's original scoop tweet about the Pentagon's grooming/fitness criteria.
Before the quotation
Posted to X on September 15, 2026, in reply to the Wall Street Journal's initial report on the Pentagon's criteria.
After the quotation
Posted as a direct reply to Wall Street Journal reporter Lara Seligman's original scoop tweet.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Nichols's sarcastic reply -- that seating physically fit, well-groomed troops in the audience will "crush the Iranians" -- mocks the idea that the selection criteria have any bearing on military readiness or deterrence, expressing clear disapproval of the practice as vain and substance-free.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Pete Hegseth, United States Department of Defense
More from this case
Read the full caseHegseth defends enforcing standards
“Telling someone to get in shape, or shave, or fix their uniform, or start busting their ass - that's not discrimination. That's leadership.”Read statement
Pentagon press office offers no comment on the speech attendee criteria
United States Department of Defense
“Nothing to offer you on this.”Read statement
Jen Psaki calls the attendance criteria "casting call requirements" and questions Hegseth's priorities
“Way to focus in the middle of a war on things that really matter right now.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Tom Nichols: selection criteria will "crush the Iranians"
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/903-tom-nichols-sarcastically-said-the-selection-of-fit
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Tom Nichols: selection criteria will "crush the Iranians"". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/903-tom-nichols-sarcastically-said-the-selection-of-fit