Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is laying out a clear vision for rebuilding the United States military, one rooted in strength, standards, and the enduring warrior ethos.
Hegseth says the warrior mentality was stripped away during years of politicized leadership.
The Defense chief laid out his vision during a recent sit-down interview on “My View with Lara Trump.”
Hegseth, a former Army officer and longtime veterans’ advocate, described it as the “honor of a lifetime” to serve under President Donald Trump.
He explained that Trump is overseeing a time of historic defense reforms and renewed American resolve.
“Our commitment has been clear from the first minute,” Hegseth told Lara Trump.
“Restore the warrior ethos, rebuild our military — which President Trump did in the first term, and we’re doing again.”
Hegseth praised Operation Midnight Hammer, the precision B-2 bomber strikes that took out Iranian nuclear sites in June, calling it one of the “most brilliant efforts in our military history.”
“All the love and credit go to those in uniform who pulled it off,” he said.
“But again, our commander-in-chief set the tone, and now we’ve got a whole different set of opportunities.”
Trump’s decisive leadership and understanding of strategic weapons systems, Hegseth added, were central to the success of the mission.
“Trump’s instinct, at the beginning, was based on his understanding of what those weapons could do and that they were delivered properly to the right place,” he said.
“Those places were obliterated, and he was right.”
Hegseth, known for his emphasis on discipline and combat readiness, said restoring military excellence starts with a return to core values and standards.
“One of the most basic things you can do in the military is do PT in the morning,” he explained.
“And that’s what we’re trying to do — get back to basics.”
In an era where the Left has often attempted to inject identity politics into the ranks, Hegseth offered a firm reminder that the battlefield does not care about ideology, only about competence.
“Carrying a rucksack or carrying an artillery round, carrying your buddy across the battlefield — it doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman,” he said.
“You just need to be able to meet the standard.”
Hegseth acknowledged that the job comes with sacrifices, including time away from family.
But he credited his wife and children for keeping him grounded.
“It’s been a family thing from the beginning,” he said.
“I couldn’t do this without my wife.
“She’s been right there by my side — been my rock.
“But then also, you know, the kids don’t know what to think of it, right? I’m just Dad to them.”
As the Defense Department sees rising morale and a new wave of recruits under the America First banner, Hegseth remains focused on the mission ahead.
“Driving change into institutions is a difficult thing to do,” he said.
“The response of the American people, the immediate response to recruiting, it inspires the building.
“There’s a ton of work left to be done to sort of truly put the ‘America First’ fingerprints stamp on the Defense Department.
“We’ve just gotten started.”
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