Pentagon insiders have leaked a new nickname for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, highlighting growing tension between the defense chief and career military personnel.

Military service members and Pentagon officials are reportedly referring to the defense secretary as “No Tab Pete.” The moniker refers to Hegseth’s military uniform from his time as a major in the Army National Guard.

Specifically, the nickname points out the absence of specialized combat skill qualification patches — such as the Ranger or Sapper tabs — which are commonly earned by elite combat leaders, according to The Daily Beast. It comes after a TV star revealed Trump’s disturbing 2-word comment in his limo that left her terrified.

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The leak about Hegseth’s nickname comes amid internal friction within the Department of Defense over his leadership style.

Career military leaders have reportedly expressed frustration regarding his efforts to overhaul physical fitness requirements and his push to replace certain senior officers.

This is the second nickname leaked from the Pentagon targeting the defense chief.

Staffers previously referred to Hegseth as “Dumb McNamara,” drawing a comparison to Vietnam-era Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to criticize his hardline policy stance on conflicts in the Middle East.

Hegseth now faces the ongoing challenge of managing policy reforms while navigating resistance from career personnel within the Pentagon ranks.

Within the Army, tabs like Ranger or Sapper are highly respected symbols of elite leadership, physical dominance, and advanced tactical skill.

Hegseth has extensively criticized the career military establishment in his book The War on Warriors and pushes for a return to a hyper-masculine, elite combat ethos. Insiders use the nickname to point out a perceived double standard: they argue he is demanding an ultra-elite standard from the troops that he did not achieve himself during his military career.

Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard, deploying to high-stakes zones including Iraq and Afghanistan. His uniform features two Bronze Star Medals and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), which explicitly denotes frontline combat experience.

Because these nicknames are used by Pentagon staffers behind his back, Pete Hegseth has not directly addressed them or publicly stated whether they bother him.

However, reporting from inside the Department of Defense suggests the leaks reflect a highly stressful atmosphere characterized by internal conflict and paranoia.

Pentagon officials have stated that Hegseth has developed significant “insecurity and paranoia” regarding internal opposition.