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MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell said on “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s use of the term “we leave no one behind” is outdated, as he responded to his comments during a White House briefing on the recent rescue operation of American soldiers.
O’Donnell began by addressing Hegseth’s statement directly and compared it to what he described as the modern understanding of military service.
“That means it’s an old-school version of the idea back when only men flew U.S. military planes,” O’Donnell said.
He pointed out how the language of the military has improved, and noted that the current leadership has adopted broad terms.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left; Lawyer Yassamin Ansari, right. (Alex Wong/Getty Images; Matt McClain/Getty Images)
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O’Donnell argued that the revised phrase better reflected the inclusion of women in combat roles, saying General Dan Kaine’s draft was more accurate.
“The general knows, unlike Pete Hegseth, that it might have been a woman they were trying to rescue,” O’Donnell said. “It might be a woman next time.”
Staff watch as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seen through a window, speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Washington. (Mark Schifelbein/AP Photo)
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The MSNBC host then expanded his criticism, challenging the notion that the US military has always supported the mission in action.
“This 21st century idea that we leave no one behind ignores the 120,000 prisoners of war who were held by the German and Japanese forces in World War II,” O’Donnell said, noting that they had been “left behind” for years.
He also talked about the Vietnam War, asking Sen. The late John McCain.
President Donald Trump addresses the nation at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 1, 2026. (Alex Brandon/Pool via Reuters)
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“In Vietnam, we left John McCain behind,” O’Donnell said, recounting how McCain was captured and held as a prisoner of war for five years.
O’Donnell connected that history to comments made by President Donald Trump during his first presidential campaign.
“When reminded that John McCain was a war hero, Donald Trump said he’s not a war hero,” O’Donnell said, quoting Trump, “‘I like people who don’t get caught.’
O’Donnell emphasized how modern rescue operations are very different from past conflicts.
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“The idea of using 155 aircraft and hundreds of military personnel in a rescue operation for one person… was unthinkable in World War II or Vietnam,” he said.
O’Donnell ultimately focused his criticism on what he saw as a disconnect between rhetoric and reality in military history and policy.
“The idea… ignores history,” he said, arguing that the phrase has evolved beyond its original meaning and should reflect both contemporary service members and historical context.
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