I doubt that very much. Hegseth was just reading a script he was given by Trump and his handlers. That's what he did on Fox. That's his job in this admin. Don't blame the dummy, blame the ventriloquist (who is also a dummy).

They have their own TV channels, personalities, media. They deride fact checking and (well) moderated debate. They buy social media platforms to manipulate algorithms and amplify content that suits their preferred ends and worldview.

What they are threatened by are places of alignment + organizing

Can The Onion buy the U.S. presidency next? I'm sure Trump would sell it for the right price.