Pentagon Welcomes YouTube Stars Logan And Jake Paul To Address Troops

The Department of Defense hosted former YouTubers and boxers Jake and Logan Paul last week, with the Pentagon confirming they met Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The brothers shared photos on Instagram showing their visit to Washington D.C., including a tour of the Pentagon briefing room and meetings with government officials. On Sunday, the Department of Defense posted videos and images captioned "Last Thursday, we welcomed Logan and Jake Paul to the Pentagon to meet with our warriors." A video from the Defense Department showed the brothers meeting uniformed troops and addressing them while speaking with Hegseth.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez stated that the department was proud to host the duo. He noted they toured the building, paid respects at the 9/11 memorial, thanked service members, and met with Hegseth. The Department expressed gratitude for their continued support of the military. It remains unclear why the brothers visited; however, official records indicate the Pauls covered their own transportation costs to D.C., which included meetings with two cabinet secretaries.

During their trip, Jake Paul also met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. A Pentagon official confirmed that both men paid for their travel expenses independently. The Defense Department has increasingly leveraged celebrity and influencer relationships, such as recruiting troops to attend a UFC fight on the White House lawn earlier in the year. Hegseth recently flew an Apache helicopter alongside President Donald Trump.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted the Paul brothers at the Pentagon on Thursday under the headline "meet with our warriors." The self-styled "Secretary of War" welcomed them, and Logan described the tour as a cool experience. In shared footage, he expressed that there is no greater commitment to sacrifice than those willing to live, die, and fight for their country.

Logan was seen laughing alongside Hegseth and posing near Department of War signage. Jake addressed troops from the podium in the Pentagon press room, telling them each one matters and encouraging them to be proud of themselves. He added that this is the greatest country in the world and stated they should never take it for granted.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Pentagon regarding why influencers were invited to speak to service members. The Paul brothers frequently collaborate with the Trump administration, having appeared at a March rally where Jake spoke about courage and "swag." President Trump praised Jake's path from content creator to boxer and offered his support if he enters politics.

The visit occurred the day before National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Logan told gathered troops that touring the building was cool and emphasized their willingness to sacrifice for the nation. The event was documented in a video posted on X by the Department of Defense, showing smiling service members listening while meeting Hegseth. On the same day, Jake Paul met with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

In a post accompanying photos from the visit, Bessent described Jake's journey as content creator to professional boxer as distinctly American. The brothers are YouTube stars who recently landed a fight competition series on Hulu and ESPN intended for young male audiences through their company Most Valuable Promotions.