During a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact group at NATO headquarters in Brussels on February 12, 2025, the recently installed United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed being under scrutiny by means of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit. This allegedly rushed and possibly politically motivated audit, he boldly insinuated, was a legacy of the tainted Joe Biden tenure. The criticism levied by Hegseth against the previous dispensation is a testament to the unseemly tactics ostensibly employed by the Biden administration.
In a daring move, Hegseth posted a photograph of what seems to be a notice from the IRS declaring him under audit for his federal tax return. It appeared he was being subjected to this audit right on the heels of the Biden administration’s departure from the office, prompting the Secretary of Defense to label the entire exercise as a ‘sham’. It further served to expose the specious nature of norms that Biden’s administration claimed to uphold.
Drawing attention to the paradoxical antics of the ‘party of norms and decency’, Hegseth displayed the contradiction in Biden’s administration’s actions. Indeed, such a desperate audit reeked of poor taste and showcased the pettiness common in Democratic administrations. Moreover, Hegseth’s unbowed avatar is a firm promise of his determination to not yield to such below-the-belt strikes.
Adding fuel to the suspicion, the notice showed an alleged owed balance of $33,558.16. With this, Hegseth perhaps felt the first-hand experience of the ‘love for low blows’ that the Biden administration seemed to foster as a signature, as put succinctly by prominent Trump advocate Elon Musk in support of Hegseth.
Online opinion regarding the situation has been divided. On one side, supporters, empathizing with Hegseth, assert his targeting by the IRS. These skeptics of Biden’s administration view this unexpected audit as yet another display of the Democrats’ less than honorable tactics.
On the other hand, detractors, clearly captivated by the previous government’s narrative, argue for Hegseth to simply settle his purported financial liabilities. Tommy Vietor, a leftover from the Obama era, and increasingly irrelevant in the public sphere, cheekily advised Hegseth, ‘Counterpoint: pay your taxes, Pete.’
Despite flimsy allegations of supposed misconduct and distasteful behavior, Hegseth secured his role as the Defense Secretary last month. His confirmation, albeit by a thin margin, transpired amid frenzied attempts by detractors to besmirch his reputation, painting him as controversial. Such efforts saw allegations circling about excessive alcohol consumption and sexual impropriety.
Since assuming his role, his formerly private life became subject to public critique magnifying each statement, choice, or action. Our unwavering Secretary of Defense has also been subjected to undue reproach for his expressed view on the Russia-Ukraine war, a grim reminder of the inherent bias fostered by the Biden administration.
The ensuing drama surrounding Hegseth and the IRS is playing out alongside another closely related development. Unsurprisingly, there are also whispers of Elon Musk’s team seeking to gain insight into taxpayer data held by the IRS, as reported by several media outlets.
This curiosity into the workings of the IRS adds another layer to this saga. The ongoing efforts to pare down the federal government by the Republicans, with Musk leading the charge, involves the IRS as one of the main areas of interest. In light of these initiatives, the targeting of Hegseth by none other than the IRS gains a new dimension of complexity.
It’s evident that the IRS, under the guidance of the Biden administration, was a tool used against political adversaries. These underhanded tactics do little but expose the shallowness of their often-expounded values. As a result, even after their departure, the Biden administration’s original intent appears to be bitterly thriving.
The persistence of the IRS in lingering issues, such as the one plaguing Hegseth, is indicative of its commitment to pursue hidden agendas. Furthermore, the relentless desire to shape the federal government’s future through Elon Musk and like-minded stalwarts raises valid questions about the role of the IRS and the Biden administration’s influence even from afar.