Influencers Logan and Jake Paul visited the Pentagon on September 22, 2026, where they addressed troops and met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Paul brothers, known for their content creation and combat sports, shared photos and videos of their visit on social media, which included a separate meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The reason for their visit remains unclear, but it coincides with efforts to promote martial arts and physical fitness among service members, including recruiting troops for a UFC event at the White House in June. The visit also precedes Hegseth's upcoming “State of the Force” address to troops.
Celebrities have a history of visiting the Pentagon across multiple administrations. For instance, in 2019, actor Milo Ventimiglia visited to discuss strengthening the civilian-military connection, while Gerard Butler visited in 2018 to promote his film, Hunter Killer. Gene Simmons of KISS also addressed service members at the Pentagon in 2019.
During President Biden's administration, actor David Boreanaz toured the Pentagon in October 2024 as part of a United Service Organizations (USO) tour. Under President Obama, filmmakers Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow received extensive access to the Pentagon for the making of Zero Dark Thirty, which was controversial due to the access granted.
The Paul brothers have faced controversy in the past. Recently, Jake Paul suggested that the Second Amendment needs updating, claiming that citizens should be able to bear more advanced weapons systems. Additionally, in 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Jake Paul for failing to disclose payment for promoting the cryptocurrency Tronix (TRX).
The brothers have built their fame through attention-grabbing stunts, including a controversial video posted by Logan Paul showing a suicide victim in Japan's Aokigahara forest. Jake Paul was also charged with trespassing during unrest amid the Black Lives Matter protests in May 2020, although those charges were later dropped.
Their Pentagon visit has drawn backlash, including criticism from former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who expressed concerns about the seriousness of the country. The progressive media outlet MeidasTouch Network also criticized the visit, stating, "Idiocracy didn’t go far enough." In response to the backlash, Jake Paul defended their visit, stating he prefers engaging directly rather than criticizing from behind a screen.