Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Report: Hegseth’s Photo Fixation Led General Donahue Out
A report says Pete Hegseth forced a well-regarded general out of the military.
The general was Christopher Donahue.
In 2021, Donahue was the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan.
An Army photographer took a picture of him boarding the final military aircraft.
The New York Times said Hegseth became very focused on that picture.
The report connects this focus with Donahue being pushed out.
The photograph showed the end of the U.S. military departure from Afghanistan.
These claims come from the report and are not independently detailed in the provided article.
The New York Times reported that Pete Hegseth pushed General Christopher Donahue out of the military.
The report said Hegseth became fixated on a photograph of Donahue leaving Afghanistan.
Donahue was photographed boarding the final U.S. military aircraft from Afghanistan.
The photograph was taken by an Army photographer on 30 August 2021.
Donahue was the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan, according to the report.
- Who
- Pete Hegseth and General Christopher Donahue.
- What
- A report says Hegseth pushed Donahue out of the military after becoming fixated on a photograph of him leaving Afghanistan.
- When
- The photograph was taken on 30 August 2021; the report does not specify when Donahue was pushed out.
- Where
- The photograph was taken as Donahue boarded the final U.S. military aircraft leaving Afghanistan.
- Why
- According to The New York Times report, Hegseth became fixated on the photograph.
- Reported decision-maker
- Pete Hegseth, identified as the U.S. defence secretary
- General
- Christopher Donahue, 57
- Photograph subject
- Donahue boarding the final U.S. military aircraft leaving Afghanistan
- Photographer
- An Army photographer
- Photograph date
- 30 August 2021
- Historical role
- Donahue was reported to be the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan
- Source
- The New York Times