In a surprising bipartisan nod, liberal podcaster Charlamagne Tha God has voiced strong support for Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s bold new fitness mandate for the U.S. military, as Breitbart reports.

The initiative, backed by both Charlamagne and comedian Andrew Schulz, requires all military personnel, from privates to generals, to meet uniform physical standards through regular testing and training.

The discussion emerged on the popular podcast Brilliant Idiots, co-hosted by Charlamagne Tha God and Schulz. During the episode, both hosts expressed agreement with Hegseth’s push to hold high-ranking officers to the same physical expectations as other service members.

Unexpected support for new standards

Charlamagne, known for his progressive views, didn’t hold back in endorsing the policy. He emphasized the importance of appearance and readiness in the armed forces. “You can’t have the strongest military in the world and not look the part, bro,” he said.

Schulz echoed this sentiment with a focus on fairness across ranks. “There’s one standard,” Schulz noted. “It’s not amend in with a standard; it’s just one standard.”

Charlamagne also took a direct stance against leniency for senior officers. “I agree with Pete on the fat admirals and generals, though,” he remarked. “I don’t want no fat admirals and generals.”

Hegseth’s directive shakes up ranks

The policy itself, introduced by Secretary Hegseth, sets a new precedent for accountability. It mandates that every member of the military, regardless of rank, must pass physical assessments twice annually. These assessments include meeting specific height and weight criteria.

Beyond testing, Hegseth has also ordered daily physical training for all personnel. This training, or PT, is now a required part of every duty day. The directive applies from the highest joint chiefs down to the newest recruits.

Hegseth made his expectations clear in a recent statement. “Today, at my direction, every member of the joint force at every rank is required to take a PT test twice a year, as well as meet height and weight requirements twice a year,” he declared. “Every year of service.”

Daily training becomes non-negotiable

The secretary of War didn’t stop at testing requirements. He further insisted that daily physical conditioning be codified as a standard practice across the military.

Hegseth elaborated on the nature of this training in his announcement. “Also, today at my direction, every warrior across our joint force is required to do PT every duty day,” he said. “Should be common sense, I mean most units do that already, but we’re codifying.”

He also clarified that the training must be rigorous. “And, we’re not talking like hot yoga and stretching,” Hegseth added. “Real hard PT, either as a unit or as an individual.”

Accountability at every level

The scope of Hegseth’s policy is sweeping, ensuring no one is exempt. “At every level from the joint chiefs to everyone in this room to the youngest private, leaders set the standard,” he emphasized. This statement underscores his commitment to a unified standard of fitness.

The initiative has sparked conversation beyond military circles, especially with public figures like Charlamagne and Schulz weighing in. Their support highlights a rare moment of agreement across political divides on the need for discipline and readiness in the armed forces.

As the policy rolls out, it will likely reshape expectations for military leadership and personnel alike. The emphasis on physical preparedness could redefine how the U.S. military projects strength, both at home and abroad, aligning with the views expressed by Charlamagne and Schulz on maintaining a formidable image.