Foreign Policy review links Call of Duty to Pete Hegseth
New 'Call of Duty' installment signals a departure from militaristic themes, contrasting with Pete Hegseth's warrior persona.
A soldier in tactical gear crouches on the hood of a car, holding a rifle, with another soldier visible in the background near a building with Korean text (Photo via Foreign Policy)
A review published in Foreign Policy on Nov. 6, 2026, examines the latest installment of the Call of Duty video game franchise, suggesting the title reflects a shift in tone regarding military themes. Author Syrus Solo Jin argues that the game appears disillusioned with the specific brand of militarism that the series previously helped to promote.
The article draws a connection between this evolving narrative perspective and the political identity of U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Throughout 2026, Hegseth has been frequently associated with a warrior persona and a style of military masculinity that critics have compared to the culture found in first-person shooter video games.
The analysis notes that the Call of Duty series has historically been cited for its role in articulating a form of gendered militarism and has functioned as a recruitment tool. The current review highlights a departure from this historical trend within the franchise's newest release.
This critique follows earlier scrutiny of the administration's use of game imagery. In March 2026, the Trump administration faced criticism for incorporating killstreak animations from the franchise into official White House videos used to promote military strikes against Iran. During that period, Hegseth was a central figure in the administration's messaging, which some critics described as resembling the language of a teenager playing a video game.