A photo posted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on X, responding to criticism from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has gone viral, drawing widespread praise from conservatives on social media, Fox News reports.
The image, which has garnered over 2 million views, features Clinton smiling alongside Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov in March 2009, holding a “reset” button intended to symbolize improved relations between the US and Russia.
The exchange was sparked by Clinton’s post on X over the weekend, which included a Gizmodo headline stating, “Trump’s Defense Secretary Hegseth Orders Cyber Command to ‘Stand Down’ on All Russia Operations.” Clinton’s comment accompanying the link read, “Wouldn’t want to hurt Putin’s feelings.”
Hegseth’s pointed response, contrasting Clinton’s past diplomatic efforts with the current administration’s stance, ignited a flurry of reactions.
“Crooked Hillary just got OWNED,” posted Department of Defense Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson on X. Rasmussen Reports added, “Call an ambulance …,” reflecting the perception of a decisive rebuttal.
The photo has been reposted over 10,000 times on X, amassing over 3,000 comments and 70,000 likes. Fox News Digital has reached out to Clinton’s office for comment.
The exchange comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Trump administration’s relationship with Russia, fueled by the recent contentious exchange between President Trump and Ukrainian leader Zelensky at the White House.
The Trump administration, however, maintains that the controversy surrounding the meeting highlights Zelensky’s lack of commitment to serious peace negotiations. Trump has publicly stated that the Ukrainian leader is welcome to return to the White House at a later date to resume discussions.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump shifted focus:
“We should spend less time worrying about Putin, and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our Country – So that we don’t end up like Europe!”
