Celebrities at the Pentagon: How unusual was the Paul brothers’ visit?

Influencers and combat-sports personalities Logan and Jake Paul visited the Pentagon on Thursday, where they met Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and addressed military personnel. The brothers posted photos and videos of the visit over the weekend and also shared images from a separate meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Pentagon officials have not provided a public explanation for the appearance. The trip comes as the Defense Department has spotlighted martial arts and physical fitness initiatives for service members, and amid efforts to recruit troops to attend high-profile events — including a UFC event at the White House in June. The visit also precedes Hegseth’s annual “State of the Force” address later this month; The Wall Street Journal reported that Hegseth asked commanders to nominate troops to attend the address and to potentially “work out” with him. Visits by celebrities and public figures to the Pentagon are not unprecedented. The source cites examples from recent administrations, including actors Milo Ventimiglia (2019) and Gerard Butler (2018), musician Gene Simmons (2019), and actor David Boreanaz (October 2024) on a USO tour. The Obama administration provided filmmakers Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow material used in Zero Dark Thirty, an access that drew controversy for its breadth. The Paul brothers’ appearance drew notable backlash on social media. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger reposted video of the visit saying, “We aren’t a serious country at the moment,” and the progressive outlet MeidasTouch Network criticized the clip. Jake Paul posted a lengthy response defending his presence, saying he preferred to be “in the room asking questions, learning, challenging ideas, building relationships, and figuring out how I can help” rather than commenting from online. The brothers have faced separate controversies in recent years, including Jake Paul’s 2023 SEC charge over promotion of Tronix and past public incidents involving both brothers cited by the source.