John Oliver received a three-word response from a Pentagon spokesman when he reached out for comment regarding Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth this week. The spokesman allegedly replied to the HBO host with a demand to deport John Oliver, The Wrap reports. This interaction occurred as Oliver prepared his latest episode of Last Week Tonight.
Oliver started his Sunday night show by noting the midterm election results. He quickly pivoted to his main topic, which focused on why he believes Hegseth should face impeachment. Oliver noted that Republican representative Thomas Massie attempted to move toward impeachment in September. He claimed that Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home early to delay any resolution until the midterms finished. Oliver stated, “But guess what? Tick tock, b****, the midterms are over!”
The host spent a portion of his segment detailing ways he believes Hegseth harmed the military. He also alleged that the Secretary of Defense caused irreparable harm to human beings overseas. Toward the end of his report, Oliver turned his attention to a video message Hegseth released after the midterms. In that video, Hegseth praised President Trump.
Oliver likened the tone of the message to the energy of LeFou sucking up to Gaston
Oliver mentioned that communicating with the team surrounding Hegseth “felt like dealing with a bunch of d****head teenagers.” He shared specific examples of the responses his production team received during their research. When the show asked for a response regarding Hegseth’s past college remarks on diversity, the official reply was, “The secretary was and remains absolutely correct on this topic. He is very based.”
The situation escalated when the production team asked if there was any additional information the Pentagon wanted to provide for the segment. The spokesman responded with the message, “Deport John Oliver. -Pentagon spokesman.”
It is worth noting that Oliver is a U.S. citizen. He obtained his citizenship in 2024. He did not seem surprised by the dismissive nature of the communication from the Pentagon. His assessment of the team as immature suggests he had low expectations for a professional or helpful exchange.
This exchange provides a look into how the Pentagon manages inquiries from late-night hosts. Oliver used the platform to emphasize his arguments against Hegseth, even while highlighting the hostility he encountered during the fact-checking process. Oliver remains a vocal critic, and it appears the feeling is mutual among those representing the Secretary of Defense.
Published: Nov 10, 2026 01:00 pm