Stephen A. Smith calls Hegseth 'DEI' amid Jackie Robinson controversy

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith said he thinks the hiring of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is an example of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) amid backlash surrounding the removal of Jackie Robinson’s military career from the department's website.

“Pete Hegseth is the head of the Defense Department. He has served our country with honor. I am not trying to knock him or denigrate him in any way, we got to root for our elected politicians or the people that they assigned to departments and wish them nothing but the best in America's best interest,” Smith said. “But the fact of the matter is, how is he not DEI?”

Hegseth was one of President Trump’s more controversial Cabinet nominees. After serving in the Army, Hegseth went on to be a co-host of Fox News’s “Fox & Friends Weekend.” He was confirmed by the Senate despite having sexual assault and alcohol abuse allegations.

“How in the hell do you go from being a weekend host to being the head of over three and a half million people for the Defense Department of the United States?” Smith questioned.

“He happens to be white … but we don’t mention DEI when it comes to him,” he added.

Smith's comments on his ESPN show come as the Department of Defense faced backlash this week after an article dedicated to Robinson, the baseball legend, and his time in the Army was removed from the website.

“Why is it always attached to Black people?” Smith questioned. “This is the kind of stuff that we’re asking ourselves, and on a day like today, it gives us more credence to ask that question because of what happened to Jackie Robinson.”

The Defense Department previously had a webpage dedicated to Robinson’s service in the Army, but as of Tuesday, the page no longer existed. The Pentagon appeared unaware that Robinson’s page was gone and said they would “look into it.”

Smith questioned the legitimacy of the response, asking if “we’re supposed to believe that’s accidental?”  

The Trump administration has sought to eradicate DEI initiatives from the federal government. Shortly after taking office, Trump issued executive orders looking to curb the country’s DEI initiatives in government spaces.

In 2023, the conservative Supreme Court overturned affirmative action for U.S. education institutions. Smith argued on his show that affirmative action helps far more people than just Black Americans, but it’s often overlooked.

The Hill has reached out to the Defense Department for comment.