The term “jagoff” is more than just an insult in Pittsburgh. Here, it holds great cultural significance.
But that’s not what Pete Hegseth was trying to convey during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing.
Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News host, is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary. He faced senators for the first time Tuesday.
During the hearing, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., asked Hegseth to explain the term “jagoff.”
“I don’t need to, sir,” he said. “The men and women watching understand.”
But he wasn’t talking about the Pittsburgh version.
“It would be a JAG officer who puts his or her own priorities in front of the war fighters — their promotions, their medals, in front of having the backs of those who are making the tough calls on the front lines,” Hegseth responded about the military position during the hearing.
A JAG officer is a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, who defend Army soldiers in legal matters, the New York Times reported.
Reed implied Hegseth’s use of the slang term was disrespectful, the Times said.
Jagoff origin
In Pittsburgh speak, “jagoff” is a versatile term used to call someone stupid, irritating or annoying, according to the website yajagoff.com.
“Get off of your phone and drive, ya jagoff!” is an example of its use, the website said.
In 2017, “jagoff” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary. It’s used as a slang term in Chicago as well, according to the Times.
Social media users from the Pittsburgh area reacted to the mention of “jagoff” during the confirmation hearing on X — including a local politician.
Me hearing DC talking heads weighing in on “jagoff” meaning pic.twitter.com/D41do5smYc
— Congressman Chris Deluzio (@RepDeluzio) January 14, 2025
By calling it a "jagoff", you've disqualified yourself from discussing the base topic in the first place.
I would not have been able to answer this question properly. pic.twitter.com/rpkBQwp6tq
— Ronnie Adkins (Funker530) (@RonnieAdkins_) January 14, 2025
This jagoff stuff is incredible.
I mean, in an alternate universe this could simply be about Pittsburgh.— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) January 14, 2025
As a Pittsburgh native, we need to see jagoff enter the national lexicon. You’d think @PatMcAfeeShow would have already done this for the country https://t.co/NI1y0sCXsf
— Lawrence Muir (@LawrenceMuir1) January 14, 2025
lol they’re talking about JAG officers and all I’m hearing is them saying “jagoff” over and over
— Enguerrand VII de Coucy (@ingelramdecoucy) January 14, 2025
What is a jagoff? I thought they were asking a random Pittsburgh question for a sec. #Hegseth #confirmation
— Yancy K. Yeater (@yancykyeater) January 14, 2025
