06/10/2026
Logan told those gathered: “We see all the men and women here serving this great nation, and I don’t think there is any greater commitment to sacrifice than those willing to live, die and fight for their country.”
Even by the strange standards of modern politics, this was an unexpected sight at the Pentagon.
Influencer brothers Jake and Logan Paul were invited to meet US troops and deliver a motivational address ahead of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which honours prisoners of war and those still missing in action.
The Department of War shared footage of the visit online, saying the brothers had come to meet America’s “warriors”.
Jake added: “Each of you matter. Take this moment and be proud of yourselves for what you do.”
He went on to call America “the greatest country in the world”, saying people should never take that for granted.
Their message was respectful enough. The question many people asked was why two influencers best known for boxing, wrestling, reality television and online controversy had been chosen to deliver it.
Footage showed the brothers posing and laughing with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth before addressing troops in the Pentagon press room. The video attracted more than 47 million views, although much of the reaction was mockery.
“This unironically looks like a shot from an SNL skit,” one person wrote.
Another said: “I had to triple check to make sure this wasn’t a parody account.”
Former Republican representative Adam Kinzinger was blunter: “We aren’t a serious country at the moment.”
The Pentagon defended the visit. Deputy Press Secretary Joel Valdez said Jake and Logan had toured the building, visited the 9/11 memorial, thanked service members and briefly met Hegseth. He added that the department was grateful for their continued support of the military.
The brothers have both been linked to Donald Trump through campaign support and high-profile media appearances. Their visit also follows Trump’s decision to name Mel Gibson, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone as “special ambassadors” to Hollywood.
That announcement surprised even some of the people involved. Stallone later said he discovered his new role by watching television and turned it down because the job was “impossible”. Gibson said he had received no warning either, although he agreed to “heed the call”.
Perhaps this is simply how politics works now: celebrity reach matters, and famous faces can take a message to millions.
But seeing two internet personalities addressing military personnel inside the Pentagon still felt less like government and more like a scene written for television.
Do you think celebrity influence now carries too much weight in politics?
