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LIVE: U.S. Defens Secretary Pete Hegseth Speaks to Military Leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico

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Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the

chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

General Dan Kaine. [Applause]

[Applause]

All right, generals, admirals, senior

leaders, good morning. Wow, what a uh

what a group here today. I will tell you

that our enemies are terrified right now

that we are all in the same room. And

that is a uh a true statement. Welcome

everyone to Marine Corps Base Quantico

and the first ever key leaders all call

to the comedant and uh all of the

Marines that have made this event

possible. Thank you. This was no small

feat to put this event together in short

order. And I'm glad there's pull-up bars

just outside. The seals in the corner

out there are very happy about that. I'm

regret to inform you there will not be a

PT test after this event um because I

know you all would crush it.

Last night I had the privilege of

joining the secretary and the joint

chiefs in honoring 50 gold star families

at the White House as the president, the

first lady and our nation honored their

loved ones service and sacrifices.

teammates. It was a quiet and deeply

meaningful event that reminded all of us

that were lucky enough to be there of

the serious and unforgiving nature of

the business that we are in fighting and

winning our nation's wars. Leaders, we

are living in dynamic and potentially

dangerous times. Global risk is on the

rise. Our adversaries are no longer

aligning. They are aligned and we must

align with equal resolve and unity. Even

as we strive for and seek peace, we must

be prepared for war.

Now more than ever, it is vital that we

hear from our civilian leaders,

understand where they're taking the

department and the joint force. And

today we have the unprecedented

opportunity and honor to hear directly

from the secretary of the war, the

secretary of war and our commander-in-chief.

commander-in-chief.

Together, you and I and our civilian

leaders have the honor of leading the

finest military in the world, and we

must seize every opportunity every day

to prepare our joint force for the future.

future.

I am deeply humbled to serve with each

and every one of you. And now it is is

my distinct honor to introduce our

nation's Secretary of War, the Honorable

Well, Mr. Chairman,

the joint chiefs,

generals, admirals, commanders,

officers, senior enlisted, NCOs,

enlisted, and every member of our

>> Good morning, and welcome to the War Department.

Department.

Because the era of the Department of

Defense is over.

You see, the motto of my first platoon

was those who long for peace must

prepare for war. This is of course not a

new idea. This crowd knows that. The

origin dates to the 4th century Rome and

has been repeated ever since, including

by our first commander-in-chief, George

Washington, the first leader of the War

Department. It captures a simple yet

profound truth. To ensure peace, we must

prepare for war. From this moment

forward, the only mission of the newly

restored Department of War is this.

War fighting, preparing for war, and

preparing to win. Unrelenting and

uncompromising in that pursuit. Not

because we want war. No one here wants war.

war.

But it's because we love peace. We love

peace for our fellow citizens. They

deserve peace and they rightfully expect

us to deliver it.

Our number one job, of course, is to be

strong so that we can prevent war in the

first place. The president talks about

it all the time. It's called peace

through strength.

And as history teaches us, the only

people who actually deserve peace are

those who are willing to wage war to

defend it. That's why pacifism is so

naive and dangerous. It ignores human

nature and it ignores human history.

Either you protect your people and your

sovereignty or you will be subservient

to something or someone. It's a truth as

old as time.

And since waging war is so costly in

blood and treasure, we owe our republic

a military that will win any war we

choose or any war that is thrust upon

us. Should our enemies choose foolishly

to challenge us, they will be crushed by

the violence, precision, and ferocity of

the war department.

In other words, to our enemies,

If necessary, our troops can translate

that for you.

Another way to put it is peace through strength,

strength,

brought to you by the warrior ethos. And

we are restoring both.

As President Trump has said, and he's

right, we have the strongest, most

powerful, most lethal, and most prepared

military on the planet. That is true.

Full stop. Nobody can touch us. It's not

even close. This is true largely because

of the historic investments that he made

in his first t term, and we will

continue in this term.

But it's also true because of the

leaders in this room and the incredible

troops that you all lead.

But the world and as the chairman

mentioned, our enemies get a vote.

You feel it. I feel it. This is a moment

of urgency. Mounting urgency. Enemies

gather. Threats grow.

There is no time for games. We must be

prepared. If we're going to pre prevent

and avoid war, we must prepare now. We

are the strength part of peace through

strength. And either we're ready to win

or we are not.

You see, this urgent moment of course

requires more troops, more munitions,

more drones, more patriots, more

submarines, more B-21 bombers. It

requires more innovation, more AI in

everything and ahead of the curve. More

cyber effects, more counter UAS, more

space, more speed. America is the

strongest, but we need to get stronger

and quickly.

The time is now and the cause is urgent.

The moment requires restoring and

refocusing our defense industrial base,

our ship building industry and onshoring

all critical components. It requires, as

President Trump has done, getting our

allies and partners to step up and share

the burden. America cannot do

everything. The free world requires

allies with real hard power, real

military leadership, and real military capabilities.

capabilities.

The War Department is tackling and

prioritizing all of these things and

I'll be giving a speech next month that

will showcase the speed, innovation, and

generational acquisition reforms we are

undertaking urgently.

Likewise, the nature of the threats we

face in our hemisphere and in deterring

China is another speech for another day

coming soon.

This speech

today as I drink my coffee.

This speech today is about people

and it's about culture.

The topic today is about the nature of ourselves

ourselves

because no plan, no program, no no

reform, no formation will ultimately

succeed unless we have the right people

and the right culture at the war department.

department.

If I've learned one core lesson in my

eight months in this job, it's that

personnel is policy.

Personnel is policy.

The best way to take care of troops is

to give them good leaders committed to

the warfighting culture of the

department. Not perfect leaders, good leaders.

leaders.

Competent, qualified, professional,

agile, aggressive, innovative,

risk-taking, apolitical, faithful to

their oath and to the Constitution.

Eugene Sledge in his World War II memoir

wrote, quote, "War is brutish,

englorious, and a terrible waste. Combat

leaves an indelible mark on those who

are forced to endure it. The only

redeeming factors are my comrades

incredible bravery and their devotion to

each other.

In combat, there are thousands of

variables, as I learned in Iraq and

Afghanistan, and as so many of you did

in so many more places. Leaders can only

control about three of them. You control

how well you're trained, mostly, how

well you're equipped, and the last

variable is how well you lead. After

that, you're on your own. Our war

fighters are entitled to be led by the

best and most capable leaders. That is

who we need you all to be. Even then, in

combat, even if you do everything right,

you may still lose people because the

enemy always gets a vote. We have a

sacred duty to ensure that our warriors

are led by the most capable and

qualified combat leaders. This is one

thing you and I can control, and we owe

it to the force to deliver it.

For too long, we have simply not done

that. The military has been forced by

foolish and reckless politicians to

focus on the wrong things.

In many ways, this speech is about

fixing decades of decay.

Some of it obvious, some of it hidden.

Or as the chairman has put it, we are

clearing out the debris,

removing the distractions,

clearing the way for leaders to be leaders.

leaders.

You might say we're ending the war on warriors.

warriors.

I heard someone wrote a book about that.

For too long, we've promoted too many

uniform leaders for the wrong reasons.

based on their race, based on gender

quotas, based on historic so-called firsts.

firsts.

We've pretended that combat arms and

non-combat arms are the same thing.

We've weeded out so-called toxic leaders

under the guise of double blind

psychology assessments, promoting

riskaverse goalong to get along

conformists instead.

You name it, the department did it.

Foolish and reckless political leaders

set the wrong compass heading and we

lost our way.

We became the woke department.

But not anymore.

Right now, I'm looking out at a sea of

Americans who made a choice

when they were young men and young women

to do something most Americans will not.

to serve something greater than

yourselves, to fight for God and

country, for freedom and the

Constitution. You made a choice to serve

when others did not. And I commend you.

You are truly the best of America.

But this does not mean, and this goes

for all of us, that our path to this

auditorium on this day was a straight

line or that the conditions of the

formations we lead are where we want

them to be.

You love your country and we love this

uniform, which is why we must do better.

We just have to be honest. We have to

say with our mouths what we see with our

eyes to just tell it like it is in plain

English to point out the obvious things

right in front of us. That's what

leaders must do.

We cannot go another day without

directly addressing the plank in our own eye.

eye.

Without addressing the problems in our

This administration has done a great

deal from day one to remove the social

justice, politically correct, and toxic

ideological garbage that had infected

our department to rip out the politics.

No more identity months, DEI offices,

dudes in dresses,

no more climate change worship, no more

division, distraction, or gender

delusions. No more debris.

As I've said before and will say again,

we are done with that

I've made it my mission to uproot the

obvious distractions that made us less

capable and less lethal.

That said, the war department requires

the next step.

Underneath the woke garbage is a deeper

problem and a more important problem

that we are fixing and fixing fast.

Common sense is back at the White House.

So, making the necessary changes is

actually pretty straightforward.

President Trump expects it. and litmus

test for these changes.

It's pretty simple.

Would I want my eldest son who is 15

years old

eventually joining the types of

formations that we are currently

wielding? If in any way the answer to

that is no or even yes, but then we're

doing something wrong because my son is

no more important than any other

American citizen who dons the cloth of

our nation. He is no more important than

your son. All precious souls made in the

image and likeness of God. Every parent

deserves to know that their son or their

daughter that joins our ranks is

entering exactly the kind of unit that

the secretary of war would want his son

to join.

Think of it as the golden rule test.

Jesus said, "Do unto others that's which

you would have done unto yourself." It's

the ultimate simplifying test of truth.

The new war department golden rule is

this. Do unto your unit as you would

have done onto your own child's unit.

Would you want him serving with fat or

unfit or undertrained troops or

alongside people who can't meet basic

standards or in a unit where standards

were lowered so certain types of troops

could make it in? In a unit where

leaders were promoted for reasons other

than merit, performance, and war fighting,

fighting,

the answer is not just no, it's hell no.

This means at the War Department, first

and foremost, we must restore a ruthless,

ruthless, dispassionate,

dispassionate,

and common sense application of standards.

standards.

I don't want my son serving alongside

troops who are out of shape or in combat

unit with females who can't meet the

same combat arms physical standards as

men or troops who are not fully

proficient on their assigned weapons,

platform, or task. Or under a leader who

was the first but not the best.

Standards must be uniform,

genderneutral, and high.

If not, they're not standards.

They're just suggestions.

Suggestions that get our sons and

daughters killed

when it comes to combat arms units. And

there are many different stripes across

our joint force.

The era of politically correct,

overly sensitive, don't hurt anyone's

feelings leadership ends right now

at every level. Either you can meet the

standard, either you can do the job,

either you are disciplined, fit, and

trained or you are out.

And that's why today at my direction,

and this is the first of 10 Department

of Ward directives that are arriving at

your commands as we speak and in your inbox

inbox

today, at my direction, each service

will ensure that every requirement for

every combat MOS,

for every designated combat arms

position returns to the highest male

standard only.

Because this job is life or death.

Standards must be met. And not just met

at every level. We should seek to exceed

the standard to push the envelope to

compete. It's common sense and core to

who we are and what we do. It should be

in our DNA.

Today at my direction, we are also

adding a combat field test for combat

arms units that must be executable in

any environment at any time and with

combat equipment.

These tests don't look familiar. They'll

resemble the Army Expert Physical

Fitness Assessment or the Marine Corps

Combat Fitness Test.

I'm also directing that war fighters in

combat jobs execute their service

fitness test at a genderneutral ageormed

male standard scored above 70%.

It all starts with physical fitness and

appearance. If the Secretary of War can

do regular hard PT, so can every member

of our joint force.

Frankly, it's tiring to look out at

combat formations or really any

formation and see fat troops. Likewise,

it's completely unacceptable to see fat

generals and admirals in the halls of

the Pentagon and leading commands around

the country and the world. It's a bad

look. It is bad and it's not who we are.

So whether you're an airborne ranger or

a chairborne ranger, a brand new private

or a four-star general, you need to meet

the height and weight standards and pass

your PT test. And as the chairman said,

yes, there is no PT test.

But today, at my direction, every member

of the joint force at every rank is

required to take a PT test twice a year,

as well as meet height and weight

requirements twice a year.

every year of service.

Also, today at my direction, every

warrior across our joint force is

required to do PT every duty day. Should

be common sense. I mean, most units do

that already, but we're codifying it.

And we're not talking like hot yoga and stretching.

stretching.

Real hard PT. There's either as a unit

or as an individual at every level from

the joint chiefs to everyone in this

room to the youngest private leaders set

the standard and so many of you this do

this already. Active guard and reserve.

This also means grooming standards. No

more beards, long hair, superficial

individual expression. We're going to

cut our hair, shave our shave our

beards, and adhere to standards

because it's like the broken windows

theory of policing. It's like when you

let the small stuff go, the big stuff

eventually goes. So, you have to address

the small stuff. This is on duty in the

field and in the rear. If you want a

beard, you can join special forces.

If not, then shave. We don't have a

military full of Nordic pagans.

But unfortunately, we have had leaders

who either refused to call BS and

enforce standards or leaders who felt

like they were not allowed to enforce standards.

standards.

Both are unacceptable.

And that's why today at my direction,

the era of unprofessional appearance is over.

over.

No more beardos.

The era of rampant and ridiculous

shaving profiles is done.

Simply put, if you do not meet the male

level physical standards for combat

positions, cannot pass a PT test, or

don't want to shave and look professional,

professional,

it's time for a new position or a new profession.

profession.

I sincerely appreciate the proactive

efforts the secretaries have already

taken in some of those areas, service

secretaries, and these directives are

intended to simply accelerate those efforts.

efforts.

On the topic of standards, allow me a

few words to talk about toxic leaders.

Upholding and demanding high standards

is not toxic.

Enforcing high standards, not toxic

leadership. Leading war fighters toward

the goals of high, genderneutral, and

uncompromising standards in order to

forge a cohesive, formidable, and lethal

department of war is not toxic.

It is our duty consistent with our

constitutional oath.

Real toxic leadership is endangering

subordinates with low standards. Real

toxic leadership is promoting people

based on immutable characteristics or

quotas instead of based on merit. Real

toxic leadership is promoting

destructive ideologies that are an

anathema to the constitution and the

laws of nature and nature's god. As

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the

Declaration of Independence,

the definition of toxic has been turned

upside down, and we're correcting that.

That's why today at my direction, we're

undertaking a full review of the

department's definitions of so-called

toxic leadership, bullying, and hazing

to empower leaders to enforce standards

without fear of retribution or second-guessing.

second-guessing.

Of course, you you can't do like nasty

bullying and hazing. We're talking about

words like bullying and hazing and

toxic. They've been weaponized and

bastardized inside our formations.

Undercutting commanders and NCOs's no

more. Setting, achieving, and

maintaining high standards is what you

all do.

And if that makes me toxic, then so be it.

it.

Second, today at our direction, we're

ensuring that every service, every unit,

every schoolhouse, and every form of

professional military education conduct

an immediate review of their standards.

Now, we've done this in many places

already, but today it goes across the

entire Department of War. any place

where tried and trueue physical

standards were altered,

especially since 2015 when combat arms

standards were changed to ensure females

could qualify, must be returned to their

original standard.

Other standards have been manipulated to

hit racial quotas as well, which is just

as unacceptable. This too must end.

Merit only. The president talks about it

all the time. Merit-based.

Here are two basic frameworks I urge you

to pursue in this process. Standards I

call my staff heard all about them. The

1990 test and the E6 test.

The 1990s test is simple.

What were the military standards in 1990?

1990?

And if they they have changed, tell me why.

why.

Was it a necessary change based on the

evolving landscape of combat?

Or was the change due to a softening,

weakening, or genderbased pursuit of

other priorities?

1990s seems to be as good a place to

start as any.

and the E6 test. Ask yourself, does what

you're doing make the leadership,

accountability, and lethality efforts of

an E6 or or frankly an 03, does it make

it easier or more complicated?

Does the change empower staff sergeants,

petty officers, and tech sergeants to

get back to basics? The answer should be

a resounding yes. The E6 test or 03 test

clarifies a lot and it clarifies quickly

because war does not care if you're a

man or a woman. Neither does the enemy.

Nor does the weight of your rucks sack,

the size of an artillery round, or the

body weight of a casualty on the

battlefield who must be carried.

This, and I want to be very clear about

this, this is not about preventing women

from serving. We are we very much value

the impact of female troops. Our female

officers and NCOs are the absolute best

in the world.

But when it comes to any job that

requires physical power to perform in

combat, those physical standards must be

high and genderneutral.

If women can make it, excellent. If not,

it is what it is. If that means no women

qualify for some combat jobs, so be it.

That is not the intent, but it could be

the result. So be it.

It will also mean that weak mean that

weak men won't qualify because we're not

playing games. This is combat. This is

life or death. As we all know, this is

you versus an enemy hellbent on killing

you. To be an effective lethal fighting

force, you must trust that the warrior

alongside you in battle is capable.

truly physically capable of doing what

is necessary under fire. You know, this

is the only standard you would want for

your kids and for your grandkids.

Apply the War Department golden rule,

the 1990 test, and the E6 test, and it's

really hard to go wrong. Third,

Third,

we are attacking and ending the walking

on eggshells and zero defect command culture.

culture.

A risk averse culture means officers

execute not to lose instead of to win. A

risk averse culture means NCOs are not

empowered to enforce standards.

Commanders and NCOs's don't take

necessary risks or make tough

adjustments for fear of rocking the boat

or making mistakes.

A blemish free record is what peacetime

leaders covet the most, which is the

worst of all incentives.

You, we as senior leaders need to end

the poisonous culture of risk aversion

and empower our NCOs at all levels to

enforce standards.

Truth be told, for the most part, we

don't need new standards. We just need

to reestablish a culture where enforcing

standards is possible.

And that's why today at my direction,

I'm issuing new policies that will

overhaul the IGO

and MEO processes.

I call it the no more walking on

eggshells policy.

We are liberating commanders and NCOs.

We are liberating you.

We are overhauling an inspector general

process, the IG that has been weaponized,

weaponized,

putting complainers, ideologues, and

poor performers in the driver's seat.

We're doing the same with the equal

opportunity and military equal

opportunity policies, the EO and MEO at

our department.

No more frivolous complaints, no more

anonymous complaints, no more repeat

complaintants, no more smearing

reputations, no more endless waiting, no

more legal limbo, no more sidetracking

careers, no more walking on eggshells.

Of course, being a racist has been

illegal in our formation since 1948.

The same goes for sexual harassment.

Both are wrong and illegal. Those kinds

of infractions will be ruthlessly enforced.

enforced.

But telling someone to shave or get a

haircut or to get in shape or to fix

their uniform or to show up on time or

to work hard, that's exactly the kind of

discrimination we want.

We are not civilians. You are not

civilians. You are set apart for a

distinct purpose. So we as a department

need to stop acting and thinking like

civilians and get back to basics and put

the power back in the hands of

commanders and NCOs's. Commanders and

NCOs's who make life and death

decisions. Commanders and NCOs who

enforce standards and ensure readiness.

Commanders and NCOs who in this war

department have to look in the mirror.

and they have to pass the golden rule test.

test.

My kids, your kids, America's sons and daughters.

daughters.

So, I urge you all here today and those

watching, take this guidance and run

with it.

The core of this speech is the 10

directives we're announcing today. They

were written for you.

For Army leadership, for Navy

leadership, for Marine Corps leadership,

for Air Force leadership, Space Force

leadership. These directives are

designed to take the monkey off your

back and put you, the leadership, back

in the driver's seat.

Move out with urgency because we have

your back. I have your back and the

commander-in-chief has your back.

And when we give you this guidance, we

know mistakes will be made. It's the

nature of leadership. But you should not

pay for earnest mistakes for your entire

career. And that's why today at my

direction, we're making changes to the

retention of adverse information on

personnel records that will allow

leaders with forgivable, earnest, or

minor infractions to not be encumbered

by those infractions in perpetuity.

People make honest mistakes and our

mistakes should not define an entire

career. Otherwise, we only try not to

make mistakes and that's not the

business we're in. We need risktakers

and aggressive leaders and a culture

that supports you.

Fourth, at the War Department,

promotions across the joint force will

be based on one thing, merit.

Colorblind, genderneutral, merit-based.

The entire promotion process, including

evaluations of war fighting

capabilities, is being thoroughly

re-examined. We've already done a lot in

this area, but more changes are coming soon.

soon.

will promote top performing officers and

NCOs's faster and get rid of poor

performers more quickly. Evaluations,

education, and field exercises

will become real evaluations, not box

checks for every one of us at every level.

level.

These same reforms happened before World

War II as well. General George Marshall

and Secretary of War Henry Stimson did

the same thing.

And we won a world war because of it. As

it happens, when he started the job,

Chairman Kaine gave me a frame and a

photo to hang in my office. A matching

frame and photo hangs in his.

It's a photo of Marshall and Stimson

preparing for World War II. Those two

leaders famously kept the door open

between their offices for the entirety

of the war. They worked together,

civilian and uniform, every single day.

Chairman Kaine and I do the same. There

is no daylight between us. Our doors are

always open. Our job together is to

ensure our military is led by the very

best, ready to answer the nation's call.

Fifth, as you have seen and the media

has obsessed over, I have fired a number

of senior officers since taking over.

The previous chairman, other members of

the joint chiefs, combatant commanders,

and other commanders. The rationale for

me has been straightforward.

It's nearly impossible to change a

culture with the same people who helped

create or even benefited from that

culture. Even if that culture was

created by a previous president and

previous secretary,

my approach has been simple. When in

doubt, assess the situation, follow your

gut, and if it's the best for the

military, make a change. We all serve at

the pleasure of the president every

single day.

But in many ways, it's not their fault.

It's not your fault.

As foolish and reckless as the woke

department was, those officers were

following elected political leadership.

An entire generation of generals and

admirals were were told that they must

parrot the insane fallacy that quote,

"Our diversity is our strength."

Of course, we know our unity is our

strength. They had to put out dizzying

DEI and LGBTQI plus statements.

They were told females and males are the

same thing or that males who think

they're females is totally normal.

They were told that we need a green

fleet and electric tanks. They were told

to kick out Americans who refuse an

emergency vaccine. They followed

civilian policies set by foolish and

reckless political leaders.

Our job, my job has been to determine

which leaders simply did what they must

to answer the prerogatives of civilian

leadership and which leaders are truly

invested in the woke department and

therefore incapable of embracing the war

department and executing new lawful

orders. That's it. It's that simple. So

for the past eight months, we've gotten

a good look under the hood of our

officer corps. We've done our best to

thoroughly assess the human terrain.

We've had to make trade-offs and some

difficult decisions.

It's more of an art than a science. We

have been and will continue to be judicious,

judicious,

but also expeditious.

The new compass heading is clear.

Out with the Charllis, the McKenzies,

and the Millies, and in with the

Stockdale, the Schwarzoffs, and the Pattons.

Pattons.

more leadership changes will be made of

that uncertain. Not because we want to,

but because we must. Once again, this is

life and death. The sooner we have the

right people, the sooner we can advance

the right policies. Personnel is policy.

But I look out at this group and I see

great Americans,

leaders who have given decades to our

great republic at great sacrifice to yourselves

yourselves

and to your families.

But if the words I'm speaking today are

making your heart sink,

then you should do the honorable thing

and resign.

We would thank you for your service.

But I suspect, I know the overwhelming

majority of you feel the opposite. These

words make your hearts full.

You love the War Department because you

love what you do, the profession of

arms. You are hereby liberated to be an

a-olitical hardcharging nononsense

constitutional leader that you joined

We need you locked in on the M,

not the D, the E or the I. Not the DEI

or the DIE of dime. By that I mean the

M, military of the instruments of

national power.

We have entire departments across the

government dedicated to diplomatic,

informationational, and economic lines

of effort. We do the M. Nobody else

does. And our goof need to master it in

every domain and every scenario. No more

distractions. No more political

ideologies. No more debris.

Now, of course, we're going to disagree

at times.

We would not be Americans if we didn't.

Being a leader in a large organization

like ours means means having frank conversations

conversations

and differences of opinion.

You will win some arguments and you will

lose some arguments. But when civilian

leaders issue lawful orders, we execute.

We are professionals in the profession

of arms.

Our entire constitutional system is

predicated upon this understanding.

Now, seems like a small thing, but it's

not. This includes as well the behavior

of our troops online.

To that end, I want to thank and

recognize the services for their new

proactive social media policies.

Use them. Anonymous online or keyboard

complaining is not worthy of a warrior.

It's cowardice masquerading as

conscience. Anonymous unit level social

media pages that trash commanders,

demoralize troops, and undermine unit

cohesion must not be tolerated.

Again, 03s, E6s.

Sixth, we must train and we must maintain.

maintain.

Any moment that we are not training on

our mission or maintaining our equipment

is a moment we are less prepared for

preventing or winning the next war.

That is why today at my direction, we

are drastically reducing the ridiculous

amount of mandatory training that

individuals and units must execute.

We've already ended the most egregious.

Now, we're giving you back real time.

Less PowerPoint briefings and fewer

online courses, more time in the motor

pool, and more time on the range.

Our job is to make sure you have the

money, equipment, weapons, and parts to

train and maintain. And then you take it

from there.

You all know this because it's common

sense. The tougher and the higher the

standards in our units, the higher the

retention rates in those units. Warriors

want to be challenged. Troops want to be

tested. When you don't train and you

don't maintain, you demoralize.

And that's when our best people decide

to take their talents to the civilian world.

world.

The leaders who created the woke

department have already driven out too

many hard chargers. We reverse that

trend right now.

There is no world in which

high-intensity war exists without pain,

agony, and human tragedy.

We are in a dangerous line of work. You

are in a dangerous line of work.

We may lose good people,

but let no warrior cry out from the

grave, "If only I had been properly trained."

trained."

We will not use lose war fighters

because we failed to train or equip them

or resource them. Shame on us if we do.

Train like your warriors lives depend on

it because they do.

To that point, basic training is being

restored to what it should be, scary,

tough, and disciplined. We're empowering

drill sergeants to instill healthy fear

in new recruits,

ensuring that future war fighters are forged.

forged.

Yes, they can shark attack. They can

toss bunks. They can swear. And yes,

they can put their hands on recruits.

This does not mean they can be reckless

or violate the law, but they can use

tried and trueue methods to motivate new

recruits to make them the warriors they

need to be. Back to basics at basic as well.

well.

Of course, and you know this, basic

training is not where mission readiness

should end. The nature of the evolving

threat environment demands that everyone

in every job must be ready to join the

fight if needed. A core credo of the

Marine Corps is every Marine a rifleman.

It means that everyone, regardless of

MOS, is proficient enough to engage an

enemy threat at sea, in the air, or in a

so-called rear area.

We need to ensure that every member of

our uniform military maintains baseline

proficiency in basic combat skills,

especially because the next war, like

the last, will likely not have a rear area.

area. Finally,

Finally,

as President Trump rightly pointed out

when he changed the department name, the

United States has not won a major

theater war since the name was changed

to the Department of Defense in 1947.

One conflict stands out in stark contrast,

contrast,

the Gulf War.

Why? Well, there's a number of reasons,

but it was a limited mission with

overwhelming force and a clear end

state. But why did we execute and win

the Gulf War the way we did in 1991?

There's two overwhelming reasons.

One was President Ronald Reagan's

military buildup gave an overwhelming

advantage. And two, military and

Pentagon leadership had previous

formative battlefield experiences.

The men who led this department during

the Gulf War were mostly combat veterans

of the Vietnam War.

They said never again to mission creep

or nebulous endstates.

The same holds true today. Our civilian

and military leadership is chalk full of

veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan

who say never again to nation building

and nebulous endstates.

This cleareyed view all the way in the

White House combined with President

Trump's military buildup postures us for

future victories if and we will and when

we embrace the War Department

and we must.

We are preparing every day. We have to

be prepared for war, not for defense.

We're training warriors, not defenders.

We fight wars to win, not to defend.

Defense is something you do all the

time. time. It's inherently reactionary

and can lead to overuse, overreach, and

mission creep. War is something you do

sparingly, on our own terms, and with

clear aims. We fight to win. We unleash

overwhelming and punishing violence on

the enemy.

We also don't fight with stupid rules of

engagement. We untie the hands of our

war fighters to intimidate, demoralize,

hunt, and kill the enemies of our country.

country.

No more politically correct and

overbearing rules of engagement. Just

common sense, maximum lethality, and

authority for war fighters. That's all I

ever wanted as a platoon leader. And

it's all my E6 squad leaders ever

wanted. Back to that E6 rule. We let our

leaders fight their formations. and then

we have their back. It's very simple yet

incredibly powerful.

A few months ago, I was at the White

House when President Trump announced his

liberation day for America's trade policy.

policy.

It was a landmark day.

Well, today is another liberation day,

the liberation of America's warriors in

name, in deed, and in authorities.

You kill people and break things for a living.

living.

You are not politically correct and

don't necessarily belong always in

polite society.

We are not an army of one. We are a

joint force of millions of selfless Americans.

Americans.

We are warriors. We are purpose-built

not for fair weather, blue skies, or

calm seas. We were built to load up in

the back of helicopters, five tons or

zodiacs in the dead of night, in fair

weather or fowl, to go to dangerous

places to find to find those who would

do our nation harm and deliver justice

on behalf of the American people in

close and brutal combat if necessary.

We fight not because we hate what's in

front of us. We fight because we love

what's behind us.

You see, the Ivy League faculty lounges

will never understand us. And that's okay

okay

because they could never do what you do.

The media will mischaracterize us. And

that's okay because deep down they know

the reason they can do what they do is you.

you.

In this profession, you feel comfortable

inside the violence so that our citizens

can live peacefully.

Lethality is our calling card and

victory our only acceptable end state.

In closing,

a few weeks ago at our monthly Pentagon

Christian prayer service, I recited a

commander's prayer.

It's a simple yet meaningful prayer for

wisdom for commanders and leaders. I

encourage you to look it up if you've

never seen it. But the prayer, it ends

like this.

And most of all, Lord, please keep my

soldiers safe, lead them, guide them,

protect them, watch over them, and as

you gave all of yourself for me, help me

give all of myself for them.

And amen.

I have prayed this prayer many times

since I've had the privilege of being

your secretary, and I will continue to

pray this prayer for each of you as you

command and lead our nation's finest.

Go forth and do good things, hard things.

things.

President Trump has your back and so do I.

And you'll hear from him shortly.

Move out and draw fire because we are

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

Ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary of War.

Well, you've heard from me, so now it's

the main event, our commander-in-chief.

I have the privilege every single day of

watching him put America first, of

ensuring that our war fighters have

everything they need. Uh his compass is

clear. He's easy to follow because you

know he has our back. I was thinking

backstage, the man who was the commander-in-chief

commander-in-chief

when the War Department was created was

George Washington. The man who was

president when the War Department was

reestablished is President Trump. And

when he found out about this gathering

of senior leaders, he said, uh, I would

be honored to come in order to address

and thank the incredible Americans who

defend our nation. He has a heart full

of gratitude and love for what you do,

and we get a chance to see it every day,

and I'm honored that this morning you

all firsthand get to see it as well. So,

ladies and gentlemen, join me in

welcoming the 45th and 47th President of

the United States, our

commanderin-chief, Donald J. Trump. [Music]

[Music]

Thank you very much, Pete. A great job

you're doing, too. Fantastic job. I've

never walked into a room so silent

before. This is very Don't laugh. Don't

laugh. You're not allowed to do that.

You know what? Just have a good time.

And if you want to applaud, you applaud.

And if you want to do anything you want,

you can do anything you want. And if you

don't like what I'm saying, you can

leave the room. Of course, there goes

But you just feel nice and loose, okay?

Because we're all on the same team. And

uh I was told that sir you won't hear

you won't hear a murmur in the room. I

said we had to loosen these guys up a

little bit. So you just have a good

time. But I want to thank Secretary Hexa

and General Kaine, General Raisin Kaine

for a reason they call him that. When I

heard his name I said you're the guy I'm

looking for.

the Joint Chiefs of Staff and so many

others in this room who together

represent the greatest and most elite

fighting force in the history of the

world, the United States military. We're

very proud of our military. I rebuilt

the military during my first term. It's

one of the greatest achievements. We had

the greatest economy in history and I

built the military. Those are the two

things I say more than anything else.

And I also kept us safe at the borders.

We had very good uh borders. We didn't

have people coming in from jails and

prisons and everything like took place

over the last four years. They'll never

forget what happened to this country

over the last four years with the incompetence.

incompetence.

There could be no higher honor than to

serve as your commander-in-chief. It is

a great honor. I look at you just

incredible people.

Central casting, I might add. To each

and every one of you, I thank you for

your unwavering devotion to the armed

forces and to the country that we've all

sworn a sacred oath to defend. We all

have that oath, every one of us. I'm

thrilled to be here this morning to

address the senior leadership of what is

once again known around the world as the

Department of War. I know Pete spoke

about it. He gave a great speech. I

thought great speech. I don't want him

to get so good. I hate that, you know.

No, I hate it. I almost fired him. I

said, "You can't. I don't want to go on

after that." Now, he gave he gave a

great speech, but he talked about

Department of War. We were sitting

there. I said, "Didn't it used to be

called the Department of War?" And he

goes, "Yes, sir. They changed it like in

the early 50s." So, we won the First

World War. We won the Second World War.

We won everything in between and

everything before that. We only won. And

then we went in a way woke. That was

probably the first sign of wokeness and

we changed it to defense instead of war.

And I said, "What do you think? How do

you think if we change it back? Would

that be a nice idea?" And Pete loved it

immediately. Some people think thought

about it. You know, they gave it a

little thought, but in the end, we did

it. And and I have to be honest, it's so

popular. It's I thought would be met

with fury on the left, but they're sort

of giving up. If I must be honest with

you that they've had it. They've had it

with Trump. They've been after me for so

many years now. Here we are. Here we

are. Come to the White House anytime

you'd like. No, they've given up. Bad. A

lot of bad people. But all over. That's

been so popular. It's been a very

popular. I really thought that we were

going to have to sort of fight it

through. There's been no fight. There's

been no fight. Like what I called the

Gulf of America. The Gulf of America.

Because to me, it was always the Gulf of

America. I could never understand. We

have 92% of the frontage.

And for years, actually 350 years, they

were there before us, it was called the

Gulf of Mexico. I just had this idea.

I'm looking at a map. I'm saying we have

most of the frontage. Why is it Gulf of

Mexico? Why isn't it the Gulf of America?

America?

And uh I made the change and it went

smoothly. I mean, we had a couple of

fake news outlets that refused to make

the change, and then one of them, AP,

took us to court, and we won. And the

judge, who was a somewhat liberal judge,

said, "Uh, the name is the Gulf of

America because AP refused to call it

the Gulf of America." They wrote,

"They're not a good outfit, by the way.

They call it the Gulf of Mexico." I

said, "No, the Gulf of America is the

name." And the judge actually said that

uh in fact you can't even go into the

room because what you're doing is not

appropriate. The name is the Gulf of

America. Google maps changed the name.

Everybody did but AP wouldn't. And then

we won in court. How about that? Isn't

that so cool? As Secretary Hex

beautifully described the name change

reflects far more than the shift in

branding. It's really a historic

reassertion of our purpose and our

identity and our pride. That's when we

go with the word war. And you know, we

want war because we want to have no

wars. But you have to be there. And you

know, sometimes you have to do it. I've

settled so many wars since we're here.

We're here almost nine months and I've

settled seven. And yesterday we might

have settled the biggest of them all.

Although I don't know. Pakistan, India

was very big.

both nuclear powers. I settled that. But

yesterday is could be the settlement in

the Middle East. That's hasn't happened

for 3,000 years. I said, "How long have

you been fighting?" 3,000 years. So

that's a long time. But we got it, I

think, settled. We'll see. Hamas has to agree.

agree.

And if they don't, it's going to be very

tough on them. But it is what it is. But

all of the Arab nations, Muslim nations

have agreed.

Israel has agreed. It's a amazing thing.

It just came together. War is very

strange. You know, you never know what's

going to happen with war. The easiest

one of them all is Putin. I said, number

one, it's a war that would have never

happened if I were president. If the

election weren't rigged, if I were

president, that war would have never

happened. Not not even a little chance.

And it didn't happen for four years. But

I knew Putin very well. And I thought

that would be easy because I know him so

well. Well, that one's turned out to be

the hardest of them all. We had uh some

that were not settable and they all got

settled. So if this works out that we

did yesterday with the Middle East, then

uh that's that's more than a war. That's

lots of wars. That's all combined.

That's a lot of wars. Many of you were

over there in many different capacities

in many different countries. That was a

that's a big that's a big part of the

earth. But if that works out, it would

be eight plus. I could give myself two

or three for that one. And then we just

have the one to settle and we have to

settle it up with President Putin and

Zalinsky. Got to get them together and

get it done. But the only way we can do

that is through strength. I mean, if we

were weak, they wouldn't even take my

phone call. But we have extreme

strength. Uh we had the horror show in

Afghanistan, which is really the reason

I think that Putin went in. He saw that

horror show by Biden and his team of

incompetent people. And that showed I

think it gave him a path in. I wasn't

there any long longer. Uh I watched

that. It was so so horrible. I think it

was the most embarrassing day in the

history of our country.

And now we're back. And that's it. We're

not going to have any of that crap

happen. I can tell you that was

terrible. So terrible. Together we're

reawakening the warrior spirit. And this

is a spirit that won and built this

nation. And from the cavalry that tamed

the great plains to the ferocious unyielding power of Patton Bradley and

unyielding power of Patton Bradley and the great General Douglas MacArthur.

the great General Douglas MacArthur. These are all great men in this effort.

These are all great men in this effort. We're a team. And so my message to you

We're a team. And so my message to you is very simple. I am with you. I support

is very simple. I am with you. I support you. And as president, I have your backs

you. And as president, I have your backs 100%. You'll never see me even waver a

100%. You'll never see me even waver a little bit. It's the way it is. And that

little bit. It's the way it is. And that includes our great police officers and

includes our great police officers and firemen and all of these people that are

firemen and all of these people that are doing so well.

doing so well. Together over the next few years, we're

Together over the next few years, we're going to make our military stronger,

going to make our military stronger, tougher, faster, fiercer, and more

tougher, faster, fiercer, and more powerful than it has ever been before.

powerful than it has ever been before. I rebuilt our nuclear, as you probably

I rebuilt our nuclear, as you probably know, but we'll upgrade that also and

know, but we'll upgrade that also and just hope we never have to use it. We

just hope we never have to use it. We have to hope we never have to use it cuz

have to hope we never have to use it cuz the the power of that is so incredible.

the the power of that is so incredible. I' I see things I don't think they'd

I' I see things I don't think they'd show it to you. I I don't I really

show it to you. I I don't I really wouldn't want them to show it to you.

wouldn't want them to show it to you. But when you see the result of what's

But when you see the result of what's left,

left, you never want to use that. Never.

you never want to use that. Never. Never. Ever.

Never. Ever. We were a little bit threatened by

We were a little bit threatened by Russia

Russia recently.

recently. And I sent a

And I sent a submarine, nuclear submarine,

submarine, nuclear submarine, the most lethal weapon ever made. Number

the most lethal weapon ever made. Number one, you can't detect it. There's no

one, you can't detect it. There's no way. We're 25 years ahead of Russia and

way. We're 25 years ahead of Russia and China in submarines. Russia's actually

China in submarines. Russia's actually second in submarines. China's third, but

second in submarines. China's third, but they're, you know, they're coming up.

they're, you know, they're coming up. They're coming up. They're way to lower

They're coming up. They're way to lower in nuclear coming up. They're way to

in nuclear coming up. They're way to lower in nuclear, too, but in five years

lower in nuclear, too, but in five years they'll be equal. They're coming up.

they'll be equal. They're coming up. And you don't have to be that good with

And you don't have to be that good with that works where I mentioned the word

that works where I mentioned the word nuclear. I moved

nuclear. I moved a submarine or two. I won't say about

a submarine or two. I won't say about the two

the two over to the coast of Russia just to be

over to the coast of Russia just to be careful because we can't let people

careful because we can't let people throw around

throw around that word.

that word. I call it the nword.

I call it the nword. There are two nwords and you can't use

There are two nwords and you can't use either of them.

either of them. You can't use either of them. And

You can't use either of them. And frankly,

frankly, uh, if it does get to use, we have more

uh, if it does get to use, we have more than anybody else. We have better, we

than anybody else. We have better, we have newer, but it's something we don't

have newer, but it's something we don't ever want to even have to think about.

ever want to even have to think about. But when somebody mentions it, that

But when somebody mentions it, that submarine started immediately

submarine started immediately thereafter.

thereafter. And it's just lurking, but I'm sure

And it's just lurking, but I'm sure we're not going to have to use it. But

we're not going to have to use it. But it's a an amazing.

it's a an amazing. It's undetectable. Totally. Ours is.

It's undetectable. Totally. Ours is. Theirs isn't. Theirs are totally

Theirs isn't. Theirs are totally detectable. We can detect them easily.

detectable. We can detect them easily. We go right to the spot. But we have u

We go right to the spot. But we have u genius apparatus that doesn't allow

genius apparatus that doesn't allow detection. It doesn't allow detection at

detection. It doesn't allow detection at all by by anybody above water or below

all by by anybody above water or below water. It's incredible. We're way ahead

water. It's incredible. We're way ahead of everybody in that. and other things

of everybody in that. and other things as a result of the exciting renewal of

as a result of the exciting renewal of the spirit of our armed forces and

the spirit of our armed forces and that's what it is. It's really reaching

that's what it is. It's really reaching at spirit unprecedented heights. Over

at spirit unprecedented heights. Over the past eight months, new enlistments,

the past eight months, new enlistments, I'm so proud of this. Have surged to

I'm so proud of this. Have surged to record highs, the highest we've ever

record highs, the highest we've ever had. And we used to have recruiting

had. And we used to have recruiting shortages. If you remember about a year

shortages. If you remember about a year and a half ago, I was at the beginning

and a half ago, I was at the beginning stage of a campaign and things came out

stage of a campaign and things came out that you couldn't get people to join the

that you couldn't get people to join the armed forces. And by the way, the police

armed forces. And by the way, the police also

also fire department. I always put the fire

fire department. I always put the fire department in because they're great.

department in because they're great. They're great. And I got 95% of their

They're great. And I got 95% of their vote, too. That helps. When you get 95%

vote, too. That helps. When you get 95% of their vote, you always have to

of their vote, you always have to mention them. But they're great and

mention them. But they're great and they're brave in our inner cities, which

they're brave in our inner cities, which we're going to be talking about because

we're going to be talking about because it's so it's a big part of war now. It's

it's so it's a big part of war now. It's a big part of war. But the firemen go up

a big part of war. But the firemen go up in ladders and you have people shooting

in ladders and you have people shooting at them while they're up in ladders. I

at them while they're up in ladders. I don't even know if anybody heard that,

don't even know if anybody heard that, but and I said, "Don't talk about it

but and I said, "Don't talk about it much, but I think you have to. Our

much, but I think you have to. Our firemen are incredible. They're up in

firemen are incredible. They're up in one of these ladders that goes way up to

one of these ladders that goes way up to the sky rescuing people, and you have

the sky rescuing people, and you have animals

animals shooting at them, shooting bullets at

shooting at them, shooting bullets at firemen that are

firemen that are way up in in death territory. You fall

way up in in death territory. You fall off that ladder, it's over. It's over.

off that ladder, it's over. It's over. They don't even have to inspect you when

They don't even have to inspect you when you hit the ground. And you have people

you hit the ground. And you have people shooting bullets at them in some of

shooting bullets at them in some of these inner cities. We're not going to

these inner cities. We're not going to let that happen.

let that happen. So, I always mention the firemen because

So, I always mention the firemen because that's actually a big problem we have.

that's actually a big problem we have. They are unbelievable. Like you, they're

They are unbelievable. Like you, they're unbelievable people.

unbelievable people. For the first time on record in 2025,

For the first time on record in 2025, the Navy, Air Force, and Space Force all

the Navy, Air Force, and Space Force all met or surpassed their recruiting goals

met or surpassed their recruiting goals three months early. That never happened

three months early. That never happened before. And the Army did even better.

before. And the Army did even better. Congratulations, Army. They met

Congratulations, Army. They met everything. And these were the highest

everything. And these were the highest standards because we're making it

standards because we're making it larger. So these were much higher

larger. So these were much higher standards that you had four years ago,

standards that you had four years ago, three years ago during the sleepy Joe

three years ago during the sleepy Joe Biden era.

Biden era. And the army did it four months early.

And the army did it four months early. And you remember a year and a half ago

And you remember a year and a half ago they said the big stories that were way

they said the big stories that were way behind with the army, air force, the

behind with the army, air force, the navy, the marines were way behind. Coast

navy, the marines were way behind. Coast Guard and even Space Force. I love Space

Guard and even Space Force. I love Space Force because that was my creation. You

Force because that was my creation. You know, when you create something, I love

know, when you create something, I love it. And the people we put in there were

it. And the people we put in there were good. I got that right. We put in great

good. I got that right. We put in great people initially and we we've really

people initially and we we've really dominated. We really dominate in that

dominated. We really dominate in that sphere now. We uh we're way behind China

sphere now. We uh we're way behind China and Russia and now we dominate. Space

and Russia and now we dominate. Space force turned out to be a very important

force turned out to be a very important thing. I said from the beginning, you

thing. I said from the beginning, you know, when Biden came into office, he

know, when Biden came into office, he wanted to terminate. He said and this

wanted to terminate. He said and this thing called space force so we can get

thing called space force so we can get rid of that and he got hammered by the

rid of that and he got hammered by the people in this room for even suggesting

people in this room for even suggesting it because it's very important, one of

it because it's very important, one of the most important. And as time goes by,

the most important. And as time goes by, it'll get more and more important.

it'll get more and more important. But we're now at 106% of our recruiting

But we're now at 106% of our recruiting targets for the year. And that's the

targets for the year. And that's the best in far more than a generation. And

best in far more than a generation. And for the Marines, morale is so strong

for the Marines, morale is so strong that the Marine Corps will meet its 2026

that the Marine Corps will meet its 2026 retention targets before the end of

retention targets before the end of October, which never happens. And that's

October, which never happens. And that's the earliest it's ever happened in the

the earliest it's ever happened in the history of our country. And it makes you

history of our country. And it makes you feel good. You know, I felt guilty. I'

feel good. You know, I felt guilty. I' I'd go make a speech in front of never

I'd go make a speech in front of never people like you. You are the you are the

people like you. You are the you are the leaders, but people, soldiers. And

leaders, but people, soldiers. And I felt embarrassed because there'd be

I felt embarrassed because there'd be stories about, you know, you couldn't we

stories about, you know, you couldn't we couldn't fill up our army, navy, air

couldn't fill up our army, navy, air force. We couldn't fill them up. And it

force. We couldn't fill them up. And it was headlines. It was headlines. It was

was headlines. It was headlines. It was during Biden's four years. The autopen,

during Biden's four years. The autopen, I call him the auto pen.

I call him the auto pen. It's how would you like to have your

It's how would you like to have your thing signed by an auto pendant? You

thing signed by an auto pendant? You know, when I have a general and I have

know, when I have a general and I have to sign for a general because we have

to sign for a general because we have beautiful paper, the gorgeous paper. I

beautiful paper, the gorgeous paper. I said throw a little more gold on it.

said throw a little more gold on it. They deserve it. Give me I want the A

They deserve it. Give me I want the A paper, not the D paper. We used to sign

paper, not the D paper. We used to sign a piece of garbage. I said, "This man's

a piece of garbage. I said, "This man's going to be a general, right?" Yeah. I

going to be a general, right?" Yeah. I don't want to use this. I want to use

don't want to use this. I want to use the big beautiful firm paper. I want to

the big beautiful firm paper. I want to use the real gold writing when you talk

use the real gold writing when you talk about the position and they're beautiful

about the position and they're beautiful and uh but how would you like to have

and uh but how would you like to have that where you some kid sitting in the

that where you some kid sitting in the back office is having it signed with an

back office is having it signed with an auto pen? I thought about it and I

auto pen? I thought about it and I thought about you people first admirals

thought about you people first admirals generals. I said somebody works his

generals. I said somebody works his his whole life. He gets into maybe

his whole life. He gets into maybe themies or wherever but however you got

themies or wherever but however you got there and you go through years of work

there and you go through years of work and now you become an admiral or a

and now you become an admiral or a general or whatever

general or whatever and when you do the president of the

and when you do the president of the United States signs your commission as

United States signs your commission as you know and that commission is

you know and that commission is beautifully displayed

beautifully displayed and I sign it. Actually I love my

and I sign it. Actually I love my signature. I really do. Everyone loves

signature. I really do. Everyone loves my signature.

my signature. But I signed it very proudly and I

But I signed it very proudly and I always think to myself, how can you have

always think to myself, how can you have an auto pen sign this? It's just so

an auto pen sign this? It's just so disrespectful to me. It's just totally

disrespectful to me. It's just totally disrespectful. And it turned out that

disrespectful. And it turned out that almost everything he did was signed by

almost everything he did was signed by uh by autopen except for what he gave

uh by autopen except for what he gave his son Hunter pardon. He signed that

his son Hunter pardon. He signed that one. And that's actually the worst

one. And that's actually the worst signature I've ever seen. That was so

signature I've ever seen. That was so bad. The autopen looks much better. But

bad. The autopen looks much better. But as leaders, our commitment to every

as leaders, our commitment to every patriot who put on the uniform is to

patriot who put on the uniform is to ensure that American military remains

ensure that American military remains the most lethal and dominant on the

the most lethal and dominant on the planet. Not merely for a few years, but

planet. Not merely for a few years, but for the

decades be so strong that no nation will dare challenge us. So powerful that no

dare challenge us. So powerful that no enemy will dare threaten us. And so

enemy will dare threaten us. And so capable that no adversary can even think

capable that no adversary can even think about beating us. And we've had it

about beating us. And we've had it recently. I had uh India and Pakistan

recently. I had uh India and Pakistan were going at it and I called them both.

were going at it and I called them both. And in this case, I use trade. I'm not

And in this case, I use trade. I'm not going to trade with you. Used to nuclear

going to trade with you. Used to nuclear nations, big nuclear,

nations, big nuclear, no, no, no, you cannot do that. I said,

no, no, no, you cannot do that. I said, yes, I can. You go into this freaking

yes, I can. You go into this freaking war that I'm hearing about. You know,

war that I'm hearing about. You know, actually, they just shot down seven

actually, they just shot down seven planes. Seven planes. It was starting.

planes. Seven planes. It was starting. There's a lot of bad blood. And I said,

There's a lot of bad blood. And I said, "You do this, there's not going to be

"You do this, there's not going to be any trade."

any trade." And I stopped the war was it was going,

And I stopped the war was it was going, it was raging for four days, but that

it was raging for four days, but that was just the beginning. And we stopped

was just the beginning. And we stopped it. It was a great thing. And the prime

it. It was a great thing. And the prime minister of Pakistan was here along with

minister of Pakistan was here along with the field marshal who's a very important

the field marshal who's a very important guy in Pakistan. And he was here three

guy in Pakistan. And he was here three days ago. And I didn't even realize it

days ago. And I didn't even realize it as beautifully as he said it. But he

as beautifully as he said it. But he said that to a group of people that were

said that to a group of people that were with us, two generals, but a group. He

with us, two generals, but a group. He said, "This man saved millions of lives

said, "This man saved millions of lives because he saved the war from going on."

because he saved the war from going on." And that war was going to get very bad.

And that war was going to get very bad. Very, very bad. President Trump saved

Very, very bad. President Trump saved millions and millions of lives. That was

millions and millions of lives. That was a bad war. And uh I was very honored. I

a bad war. And uh I was very honored. I love the way he said it. Susie Wilds was

love the way he said it. Susie Wilds was there. She said that was the most

there. She said that was the most beautiful thing. But uh we saved a lot

beautiful thing. But uh we saved a lot of them.

of them. We saved a lot of them. Even in Africa,

We saved a lot of them. Even in Africa, we saved the Congo with Rwanda.

we saved the Congo with Rwanda. They've been fighting for 31 years. 10

They've been fighting for 31 years. 10 million people dead. I got that one done

million people dead. I got that one done and uh very proud of it. So if this

and uh very proud of it. So if this works out, we'll have eight eight in

works out, we'll have eight eight in eight months. That's pretty good.

eight months. That's pretty good. Nobody's ever done that. Will you get

Nobody's ever done that. Will you get the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They'll

the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They'll give it They'll give it to some guy that

give it They'll give it to some guy that didn't do a damn thing. They'll give it

didn't do a damn thing. They'll give it to a guy that wrote a book about the

to a guy that wrote a book about the mind of Donald Trump and what it took to

mind of Donald Trump and what it took to solve the wars and he'll get the Nobel

solve the wars and he'll get the Nobel Prize will go to a writer now. But we'll

Prize will go to a writer now. But we'll see what happens. But it's be a big

see what happens. But it's be a big insult to our country. I will tell you

insult to our country. I will tell you that. I don't want it. I want the

that. I don't want it. I want the country to get it. It should get it

country to get it. It should get it because there's never been anything like

because there's never been anything like it. Think of it. So if this happens, I

it. Think of it. So if this happens, I think it will. I don't say that lightly

think it will. I don't say that lightly because I know more about deals than

because I know more about deals than anybody. This is what my whole life was

anybody. This is what my whole life was based on and they can change and this

based on and they can change and this can certainly change. But we have just

can certainly change. But we have just about everybody. We have one

about everybody. We have one signature that we need and that

signature that we need and that signature will will pay in hell if they

signature will will pay in hell if they don't sign. I hope they sign for their

don't sign. I hope they sign for their own good and we create something really

own good and we create something really great.

great. But to have done eight of them is just

But to have done eight of them is just like such an honor. And then we have

like such an honor. And then we have Putin and Zalinski.

Putin and Zalinski. The easiest one of them all. I said that

The easiest one of them all. I said that one I'll get done. I thought that was

one I'll get done. I thought that was going to be first. The other was much

going to be first. The other was much harder. Some of them Azeraijan

harder. Some of them Azeraijan was this was going on for 36 years. They

was this was going on for 36 years. They said it's not solvable, sir. You can't

said it's not solvable, sir. You can't don't do it. I said I will do it. I will

don't do it. I said I will do it. I will do it. And I got on the phone with the

do it. And I got on the phone with the two countries. They were great. They

two countries. They were great. They were great. I knew immediately. I knew

were great. I knew immediately. I knew as soon as I started talking to them,

as soon as I started talking to them, we're going to solve that war. And we

we're going to solve that war. And we did. Now they're so happy. Now they're

did. Now they're so happy. Now they're friends. One said he's been president

friends. One said he's been president for 32 years, 22 years. He said, you

for 32 years, 22 years. He said, you know, for 22 years I did nothing but

know, for 22 years I did nothing but kill his people. They were in the room

kill his people. They were in the room together at the Oval Office and they

together at the Oval Office and they started off spread like this. have the

started off spread like this. have the beautiful Resolute desk and one was here

beautiful Resolute desk and one was here and one was here. You couldn't get

and one was here. You couldn't get further away. That's the furthest I've

further away. That's the furthest I've ever seen two people in front of me. And

ever seen two people in front of me. And as the hour went by, they got closer,

as the hour went by, they got closer, closer, closer. And at the end of the

closer, closer. And at the end of the hour, we had it done. And they hugged

hour, we had it done. And they hugged and hugged and hugged and I said,

and hugged and hugged and I said, "That's so nice. And you're going to

"That's so nice. And you're going to remain friends." And I spoke to them,

remain friends." And I spoke to them, one of them the other day, he said, "No,

one of them the other day, he said, "No, he's now my friend." But for 22 years,

he's now my friend." But for 22 years, he's been the head of Azeran for 22

he's been the head of Azeran for 22 years.

years. And the other guy, great guy, too.

And the other guy, great guy, too. Seven. And you know that war, that was a

Seven. And you know that war, that was a war that was not solvable.

war that was not solvable. He said, "For seven years?" The other

He said, "For seven years?" The other one said, "For 22 years, all I did was

one said, "For 22 years, all I did was kill his people. That's all I've done."

kill his people. That's all I've done." I said, "Well, we're going to put a stop

I said, "Well, we're going to put a stop to that." So, we solved that. So, it's a

to that." So, we solved that. So, it's a great thing. It's a great feeling. You

great thing. It's a great feeling. You know, you're saving Kosovo and Serbia.

know, you're saving Kosovo and Serbia. You're saving so many lives doing this

You're saving so many lives doing this if you can do it. But our people deserve

if you can do it. But our people deserve nothing less than the very best. And

nothing less than the very best. And we're never going to let them down. And

we're never going to let them down. And if we can solve wars instead of you

if we can solve wars instead of you having to fight wars, wouldn't that be

having to fight wars, wouldn't that be wonderful? Right? Wouldn't that be

wonderful? Right? Wouldn't that be wonderful? That's why one of the first

wonderful? That's why one of the first executive orders I signed upon taking

executive orders I signed upon taking office was to restore the principle of

office was to restore the principle of merit. That's the most important word

merit. That's the most important word other than the word tariff. I love

other than the word tariff. I love tariffs.

tariffs. Most beautiful word, but I'm not allowed

Most beautiful word, but I'm not allowed to say that anymore. I said tariff is my

to say that anymore. I said tariff is my favorite word. I love the word tariff.

favorite word. I love the word tariff. You know, we're becoming rich as hell.

You know, we're becoming rich as hell. We have a big case in front of the

We have a big case in front of the Supreme Court but I I can't imagine

Supreme Court but I I can't imagine because this is what other nations have

because this is what other nations have done to us and we have you know great

done to us and we have you know great legal grounds and all but you still have

legal grounds and all but you still have a case would be very bad something

a case would be very bad something happened but I said my favorite word in

happened but I said my favorite word in the English dictionary is the word

the English dictionary is the word tariff and people thought that was

tariff and people thought that was strange and the fake news came over and

strange and the fake news came over and they really hit me hard on it. They said

they really hit me hard on it. They said what about love? What about religion?

what about love? What about religion? What about God? What about wife, family?

What about God? What about wife, family? I got killed when I said tariff is my

I got killed when I said tariff is my favorite word. So, I changed. It's now

favorite word. So, I changed. It's now my fifth favorite word. And I'm okay

my fifth favorite word. And I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that. But they

with that. I'm okay with that. But they hit me hard. But it is I mean, when you

hit me hard. But it is I mean, when you look at we've taken in trillions of

look at we've taken in trillions of dollars. We're rich, rich again. And

dollars. We're rich, rich again. And there'll never be when we finish this

there'll never be when we finish this out, there'll never be any wealth like

out, there'll never be any wealth like what we have. Other countries were

what we have. Other countries were taking advantage of us for years and

taking advantage of us for years and years. You know that better than anybody

years. You know that better than anybody and now we're treating them fairly, but

and now we're treating them fairly, but the money coming in is we've never seen

the money coming in is we've never seen anything like it. The other day they had

anything like it. The other day they had 31 billion that they found. $31 billion.

31 billion that they found. $31 billion. So we found $ 31 billion and we're not

So we found $ 31 billion and we're not sure from where it came. A gentleman

sure from where it came. A gentleman came in, a financial guy. I said, "Well,

came in, a financial guy. I said, "Well, what does that mean?" He said, "We don't

what does that mean?" He said, "We don't know where it came." came. I said,

know where it came." came. I said, "Check the tariff shelf." "No, sir. The

"Check the tariff shelf." "No, sir. The tariffs haven't started in that sector

tariffs haven't started in that sector yet." I said, "Yes, they have. They

yet." I said, "Yes, they have. They started 7 weeks ago. Check it." Comes

started 7 weeks ago. Check it." Comes back 20 minutes late. Sir, you're right.

back 20 minutes late. Sir, you're right. It came from tariffs. 31 billion. That's

It came from tariffs. 31 billion. That's enough to buy a lot of battleships.

enough to buy a lot of battleships. Admiral,

Admiral, to use an old term, I think we should

to use an old term, I think we should maybe start thinking about battleships.

maybe start thinking about battleships. By the way, you know, we have a

By the way, you know, we have a secretary of the Navy came to me cuz I

secretary of the Navy came to me cuz I look at the Iowa out in California and I

look at the Iowa out in California and I look at uh different ships in the old

look at uh different ships in the old pictures. I used to watch Victory at

pictures. I used to watch Victory at Sea. I love Victory at Sea. Look at

Sea. I love Victory at Sea. Look at these admirals. It's got to be your

these admirals. It's got to be your alltime fade, black and white. And I

alltime fade, black and white. And I look at those ships. They came with the

look at those ships. They came with the destroyers alongside of them. And man,

destroyers alongside of them. And man, nothing was going to stop. They were 20

nothing was going to stop. They were 20 deep and they were in a straight line.

deep and they were in a straight line. And there was nothing going to stop

And there was nothing going to stop them. And we actually talk about, you

them. And we actually talk about, you know, those ships. Some people would

know, those ships. Some people would say, "No, that's old technology." I

say, "No, that's old technology." I don't know. I don't think it's old

don't know. I don't think it's old technology when you look at those guns.

technology when you look at those guns. But it's something we're actually

But it's something we're actually considering. The concept of battleship,

considering. The concept of battleship, nice 6-in size solid steel, not

nice 6-in size solid steel, not aluminum. Aluminum that melts if it

aluminum. Aluminum that melts if it looks at a missile coming at it, starts

looks at a missile coming at it, starts melting as the missiles about 2 miles

melting as the missiles about 2 miles away. Now, those ships, they don't make

away. Now, those ships, they don't make them that way anymore. But you look at

them that way anymore. But you look at it and uh your secretary likes it and

it and uh your secretary likes it and I'm I'm sort of open to it and and

I'm I'm sort of open to it and and bullets are a lot less expensive than

bullets are a lot less expensive than missiles. A lot of a lot of reasons. I I

missiles. A lot of a lot of reasons. I I should take a vote, but I'm afraid to

should take a vote, but I'm afraid to take that vote because I may get voted

take that vote because I may get voted out on that one. But I tell you, it's uh

out on that one. But I tell you, it's uh it's something we're seriously

it's something we're seriously considering there. Uh there were powers.

considering there. Uh there were powers. There were big powers. They were just

There were big powers. They were just about as uh mean and scary as you could

about as uh mean and scary as you could be. And so we're looking at that. One of

be. And so we're looking at that. One of the biggest cases that we won was the

the biggest cases that we won was the decision of the United States Supreme

decision of the United States Supreme Court to allow us to proceed on the word

Court to allow us to proceed on the word merit. Merit. So those two words are

merit. Merit. So those two words are right up there. So this is I would say

right up there. So this is I would say the opposite of you ask for a

the opposite of you ask for a definition. The opposite of political

definition. The opposite of political correctness.

correctness. We went through political correct where

We went through political correct where you had to have people that were totally

you had to have people that were totally unfit to be doing what you're doing for

unfit to be doing what you're doing for many reasons. I won't get into them, but

many reasons. I won't get into them, but for many reasons they were unfit. Now

for many reasons they were unfit. Now it's all based on merit. That was such

it's all based on merit. That was such an unbelievable decision. I didn't

an unbelievable decision. I didn't expect we were going to win that one. We

expect we were going to win that one. We went in, we said we need it. We went in

went in, we said we need it. We went in for colleges, you know, where kids with

for colleges, you know, where kids with a C average are getting into the best

a C average are getting into the best colleges and the kids with Averages

colleges and the kids with Averages won't get in. And kids with the highest

won't get in. And kids with the highest boards and the highest marks and the

boards and the highest marks and the best marks couldn't get into the best

best marks couldn't get into the best schools. And people that had not good

schools. And people that had not good boards and not very good marks. I mean,

boards and not very good marks. I mean, okay, but nothing special. They were

okay, but nothing special. They were getting into our best colleges. I said,

getting into our best colleges. I said, "This is just crazy. We can't run. You

"This is just crazy. We can't run. You can't run a country like this." And it's

can't run a country like this." And it's it was lingering for years and it got to

it was lingering for years and it got to the Supreme Court and we won that

the Supreme Court and we won that decision. Merit, everything's based on

decision. Merit, everything's based on merit. You're all based on merit. We're

merit. You're all based on merit. We're not going to have somebody taking your

not going to have somebody taking your place for political reasons because uh

place for political reasons because uh they are politically correct and you're

they are politically correct and you're not.

not. We take the people that are going to do

We take the people that are going to do the best job. That's all. It's very

the best job. That's all. It's very simple. And that's the way our country

simple. And that's the way our country was built. We were built on merit. We

was built. We were built on merit. We got away from it for a long time.

got away from it for a long time. and everyone understands it and it was

and everyone understands it and it was done. It was approved. I I give great

done. It was approved. I I give great credit to the Supreme Court because I

credit to the Supreme Court because I thought they had tremendous courage. I

thought they had tremendous courage. I didn't think they'd do that. That was

didn't think they'd do that. That was tremendous. I give them maybe for that

tremendous. I give them maybe for that decision almost more than anything

decision almost more than anything because it's a hard decision to make.

because it's a hard decision to make. It's really hard. The apparatus of our

It's really hard. The apparatus of our country was not set up for merit. It was

country was not set up for merit. It was set up for political correctness. And

set up for political correctness. And you can never be great if you're going

you can never be great if you're going to do that. And we're going to be

to do that. And we're going to be greater than we ever were before. We're

greater than we ever were before. We're bringing back a focus on fitness,

bringing back a focus on fitness, ability, character, and strength. And

ability, character, and strength. And it's because the purposes of American

it's because the purposes of American military is not to protect anyone's

military is not to protect anyone's feelings. It's to protect our republic.

feelings. It's to protect our republic. And it's the republic that we dearly

And it's the republic that we dearly love. It's to protect our country.

love. It's to protect our country. We will not be politically correct when

We will not be politically correct when it comes to defending American freedom.

it comes to defending American freedom. And we will be a fighting and winning

And we will be a fighting and winning machine. We want to fight. We want to

machine. We want to fight. We want to win. And we want to fight as little as

win. And we want to fight as little as possible. You have to count on people

possible. You have to count on people like me to keep you out of wars because

like me to keep you out of wars because we don't want to go into wars. Many of

we don't want to go into wars. Many of the wars that I just told you about, we

the wars that I just told you about, we could have entered those wars and

could have entered those wars and settled them in a different way. Lose a

settled them in a different way. Lose a lot of our troops

lot of our troops and uh we could have settled them I

and uh we could have settled them I guess differently. Maybe not actually be

guess differently. Maybe not actually be actually you might not have been able to

actually you might not have been able to settle them. We just would have been in

settle them. We just would have been in the middle of a lot of lot of firepower.

the middle of a lot of lot of firepower. But uh but when we do need it, you're

But uh but when we do need it, you're going to be so ready and you know it.

going to be so ready and you know it. But very importantly, with that goal in

But very importantly, with that goal in mind, I've committed to spending over $1

mind, I've committed to spending over $1 trillion on our military in 2026. And

trillion on our military in 2026. And that's the most in the history of our

that's the most in the history of our country. $1 trillion. That's a lot of

country. $1 trillion. That's a lot of money. I hope you like that,

money. I hope you like that, ma'ams and sir. I hope you like it.

ma'ams and sir. I hope you like it. That's a hell of a lot of money. We have

That's a hell of a lot of money. We have the best of everything. Every branch is

the best of everything. Every branch is seeing major investments. And as I

seeing major investments. And as I announced in the Oval Office in March,

announced in the Oval Office in March, we are rapidly moving forward with the

we are rapidly moving forward with the first ever sixth generation fighter jet.

first ever sixth generation fighter jet. I didn't name it. I did not name it.

I didn't name it. I did not name it. Boeing came in and they said, "Sir, this

Boeing came in and they said, "Sir, this is our submitt. It's the greatest

is our submitt. It's the greatest fighting jet ever done. And you know,

fighting jet ever done. And you know, they're testing all these planes all the

they're testing all these planes all the companies are testing and this one

companies are testing and this one tested like through the roof.

tested like through the roof. And they said, "We'd like to name it the

And they said, "We'd like to name it the F47."

F47." I said, "All right, let me think about

I said, "All right, let me think about it." Then after thinking for about two

it." Then after thinking for about two seconds, I said, "Okay."

seconds, I said, "Okay." You know what that means? 47 and 47. So

You know what that means? 47 and 47. So I'm 45, 46, and 47. You know, if you

I'm 45, 46, and 47. You know, if you think about it, I just don't want the

think about it, I just don't want the credit for 46.

credit for 46. I don't want to have their uh open

I don't want to have their uh open borders and people coming in from all

borders and people coming in from all over the world, including jails and

over the world, including jails and mental incident. I don't want that on my

mental incident. I don't want that on my record, but I like I like having it.

record, but I like I like having it. We're investing tens of billions of

We're investing tens of billions of dollars in modernizing our nuclear

dollars in modernizing our nuclear deterrence capabilities like never

deterrence capabilities like never before. And we've begun construction on

before. And we've begun construction on what we call the Golden Dome Missile

what we call the Golden Dome Missile Defense Shield. It'll be the most

Defense Shield. It'll be the most sophisticated in the world. You watched

sophisticated in the world. You watched it do well until they had some problems

it do well until they had some problems at the end with a little bit of a lack

at the end with a little bit of a lack of

of ammunition, defensive ammunition, but

ammunition, defensive ammunition, but they've got that taken care of. But I

they've got that taken care of. But I tell you, it's uh what we're doing is so

tell you, it's uh what we're doing is so good and we deserve it. You know, we we

good and we deserve it. You know, we we help other countries with it. We don't

help other countries with it. We don't have it ourselves.

have it ourselves. And Canada called me a couple of weeks

And Canada called me a couple of weeks ago. They want to be part of it. to

ago. They want to be part of it. to which I said,"Well, why don't you just

which I said,"Well, why don't you just join our country? You become 51, become

join our country? You become 51, become the 51st state and you get it for free."

the 51st state and you get it for free." So, I don't know if that made a big

So, I don't know if that made a big impact, but it does make a lot of sense.

impact, but it does make a lot of sense. It actually because they're having a

It actually because they're having a hard time up there in Canada now because

hard time up there in Canada now because as you know with tariffs, everyone's

as you know with tariffs, everyone's coming into our country. We have more

coming into our country. We have more investment than we've ever had before.

investment than we've ever had before. 17 trillion dollars coming in. As an

17 trillion dollars coming in. As an example, in four years, Biden didn't

example, in four years, Biden didn't have one trillion.

have one trillion. We have 17 trillion more than that in

We have 17 trillion more than that in eight months coming in. And they're

eight months coming in. And they're coming in from Canada, Mexico, from

coming in from Canada, Mexico, from Europe, from all over. AI, auto plants.

Europe, from all over. AI, auto plants. Everybody's coming back to the United

Everybody's coming back to the United States.

States. Under my budget, we will be expanding

Under my budget, we will be expanding the US Navy by at least 19 ships next

the US Navy by at least 19 ships next year, including submarines, destroyers,

year, including submarines, destroyers, assault ships, and more. And it's going

assault ships, and more. And it's going to be much more than that as we go along

to be much more than that as we go along because we basically don't build ships

because we basically don't build ships anymore. We do build submarines, but we

anymore. We do build submarines, but we don't build

don't build ships. Do you know in the uh Second

ships. Do you know in the uh Second World War they were freigherss and

World War they were freigherss and different types, but we were doing a

different types, but we were doing a ship a day and now we don't do ships.

ship a day and now we don't do ships. And I'm not a fan of some of the ships

And I'm not a fan of some of the ships you do. I'm a very aesthetic person and

you do. I'm a very aesthetic person and I don't like some of the ships you're

I don't like some of the ships you're doing aesthetically. They say, "Oh, it's

doing aesthetically. They say, "Oh, it's stealth." They said that's that's an

stealth." They said that's that's an ugly ship. It's not necessary in order

ugly ship. It's not necessary in order to say use stealth. By the way, the B2

to say use stealth. By the way, the B2 bombers were incredible. That is

bombers were incredible. That is stealth. They went into that. I was with

stealth. They went into that. I was with General Kane and every and Pete were in

General Kane and every and Pete were in the we call it the war room. But we're

the we call it the war room. But we're watching them go in and they were

watching them go in and they were totally untouched. They were not seen.

totally untouched. They were not seen. They were literally not seen. They

They were literally not seen. They dropped their bombs. They hit every

dropped their bombs. They hit every single one of them hit its target. It

single one of them hit its target. It was total obliteration.

was total obliteration. CNN when we came back, fake news CNN.

CNN when we came back, fake news CNN. Oh, their camera just went off. You

Oh, their camera just went off. You know, their camera, every time I mention

know, their camera, every time I mention them, they turn the camera off because

them, they turn the camera off because it's never good. They said, "This is a

it's never good. They said, "This is a problem." But I don't blame him. You're

problem." But I don't blame him. You're better off keeping it off. But, uh, they

better off keeping it off. But, uh, they they have some scammer reporter who

they have some scammer reporter who started saying without any knowledge

started saying without any knowledge that he may not have hit the targets as

that he may not have hit the targets as well as they thought. It may not been

well as they thought. It may not been obliteration. He did hit the targets and

obliteration. He did hit the targets and I got to give us a little credit, right?

I got to give us a little credit, right? It was obliteration. It turned out the

It was obliteration. It turned out the Atomic Energy Commission said it was

Atomic Energy Commission said it was obliter,

I guess, a beam going right into these shoots. Every single one of those bombs

shoots. Every single one of those bombs went right down those shoots into a

went right down those shoots into a granite mountain. I think it's the last

granite mountain. I think it's the last time they're going to build air shoots.

time they're going to build air shoots. They had these air shoots that were

They had these air shoots that were nice, beautiful. They were meant for us,

nice, beautiful. They were meant for us, but it was total obliteration. And now

but it was total obliteration. And now they give us credit for that. But these

they give us credit for that. But these people were phenomenal. I tell you, for

people were phenomenal. I tell you, for the Air Force people here, uh you can be

the Air Force people here, uh you can be very proud that Beto, we just ordered a

very proud that Beto, we just ordered a lot of new ones. New ones and uh updated

lot of new ones. New ones and uh updated ones, but I'd be I'd take the other

ones, but I'd be I'd take the other ones, let me tell you. They couldn't

ones, let me tell you. They couldn't have worked any better. So they flew for

have worked any better. So they flew for uh 37 hours total back and forth. No

uh 37 hours total back and forth. No stops, no nothing. We had 52 tankers

stops, no nothing. We had 52 tankers loading them up. And that's a job I

loading them up. And that's a job I wouldn't necessarily want too much.

wouldn't necessarily want too much. Flying a tanker loaded up with hundreds

Flying a tanker loaded up with hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel. I don't

of thousands of gallons of fuel. I don't know if I'd do that job, General. I

know if I'd do that job, General. I asked the question, "What happens if it

asked the question, "What happens if it gets hit?" Sir, you don't want to know

gets hit?" Sir, you don't want to know about that, right? I don't want to know

about that, right? I don't want to know about that. But those guys, they just

about that. But those guys, they just hear us. They're incredible. We had them

hear us. They're incredible. We had them all to the Oval Office. We had the B2

all to the Oval Office. We had the B2 pilots and a lot of the people, even the

pilots and a lot of the people, even the people that uh took care of them, the

people that uh took care of them, the maintenance people, just as important.

maintenance people, just as important. We had them all to the White House, gave

We had them all to the White House, gave him a big party on the lawn, brought

him a big party on the lawn, brought some of them into the Oval Office. But

some of them into the Oval Office. But on top of all this, we'll deliver a

on top of all this, we'll deliver a hard-earned pay raise of 3.8% to every

hard-earned pay raise of 3.8% to every soldier, sailor, airmen, coast

soldier, sailor, airmen, coast guardsmen, space guard, and marines.

guardsmen, space guard, and marines. Something you weren't getting from the

Something you weren't getting from the past administration. They did not do

past administration. They did not do with respect. They're Democrats. They

with respect. They're Democrats. They never do. Not only are we rebuilding our

never do. Not only are we rebuilding our great strength, but for the first time

great strength, but for the first time in years, my administration is actually

in years, my administration is actually using that strength to defend the core

using that strength to defend the core and vital interests of America. And very

and vital interests of America. And very simply, we are putting America first.

simply, we are putting America first. And I have since I've been elected. I've

And I have since I've been elected. I've always put America first. It's sort of

always put America first. It's sort of simple, you know, when you think it's my

simple, you know, when you think it's my campaign was run on common sense. And we

campaign was run on common sense. And we did great. We got the highest number

districts. You know, they have it broken up. 25,500

up. 25,500 versus 525.

versus 525. We won every swing state. We won the

We won every swing state. We won the popular vote. We won everything. We won

popular vote. We won everything. We won everything. You have to take a look at

everything. You have to take a look at the map. It's almost entirely red except

the map. It's almost entirely red except there's a little blue line on each

there's a little blue line on each coast. And I think that's going to

coast. And I think that's going to disappear, too. We did really great. And

disappear, too. We did really great. And part of it is because of our success

part of it is because of our success with the military, the rebuilding of the

with the military, the rebuilding of the military, the vote that I got from the

military, the vote that I got from the military and they was the vicious

military and they was the vicious people, you know, that we have to fight

people, you know, that we have to fight just like you have to fight vicious

just like you have to fight vicious people. Mine are different a different

people. Mine are different a different kind of vicious. But uh they spread all

kind of vicious. But uh they spread all these horrible, you know, they made up

these horrible, you know, they made up statements and said what I said about

statements and said what I said about everything, but even about the military.

everything, but even about the military. But fortunately, the military didn't

But fortunately, the military didn't believe it. It's hard, you know, they

believe it. It's hard, you know, they make up a statement and they said, "You

make up a statement and they said, "You say it." We had 25 people that said he

say it." We had 25 people that said he never said that. 25. We had 25

never said that. 25. We had 25 affidavits. And they said, "Well, we're

affidavits. And they said, "Well, we're going with it anyway." You know, these

going with it anyway." You know, these sleeves bags and it's why the press is

sleeves bags and it's why the press is really losing all power because people

really losing all power because people aren't believing it. We need an honest

aren't believing it. We need an honest press. We need borders. We need borders.

press. We need borders. We need borders. We need an honest press. We need fair

We need an honest press. We need fair elections. I mean, those three things.

elections. I mean, those three things. And we we don't have an honest press. We

And we we don't have an honest press. We have a really corrupt press. But we

have a really corrupt press. But we fight through the corrupt press. And the

fight through the corrupt press. And the people understand you have to do this

people understand you have to do this stuff a lot. You have to go on

stuff a lot. You have to go on television a lot because you can't get a

television a lot because you can't get a fair shake if you're going to rely on

fair shake if you're going to rely on somebody else. It's they're just uh they

somebody else. It's they're just uh they don't understand. They've destroyed the

don't understand. They've destroyed the the image of media now is at the lowest

the image of media now is at the lowest point it's ever been. It's lower than

point it's ever been. It's lower than Congress. Can you believe that? It's

Congress. Can you believe that? It's something. But together with many of you

something. But together with many of you in the room, we've brought back the

in the room, we've brought back the fundamental principle that defending the

fundamental principle that defending the homeland is the military's first and

homeland is the military's first and most important priority. That's what it

most important priority. That's what it is. Only in recent decades did

is. Only in recent decades did politicians somehow come to believe that

politicians somehow come to believe that our job is to police the far reaches of

our job is to police the far reaches of Kenya and Somalia while America is under

Kenya and Somalia while America is under invasion from within. We're under

invasion from within. We're under invasion from within.

invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy, but

No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they

more difficult in many ways because they don't wear uniforms. At least when

don't wear uniforms. At least when they're wearing a uniform, you can take

they're wearing a uniform, you can take them out. These people don't have

them out. These people don't have uniforms. But we are under invasion from

uniforms. But we are under invasion from within. We're stopping it very quickly.

within. We're stopping it very quickly. After spending trillions of dollars

After spending trillions of dollars defending the borders of foreign

defending the borders of foreign countries, with your help, we're

countries, with your help, we're defending the borders of our country

defending the borders of our country from now on. We're not going to let this

from now on. We're not going to let this happen. Biden let people come in from

happen. Biden let people come in from prisons, mental institutions, drug

prisons, mental institutions, drug dealers,

dealers, murderers.

murderers. You know, we had 11,488

You know, we had 11,488 murderers allowed into our country by

murderers allowed into our country by this guy who had no clue. He had no

this guy who had no clue. He had no clue.

clue. He shouldn't have been there in the

He shouldn't have been there in the first place, but he had no clue. The

first place, but he had no clue. The people that ran the de the the office,

people that ran the de the the office, the White House, were people that

the White House, were people that surrounded him. radical left lunatics

surrounded him. radical left lunatics that are brilliant

people but and uh they allowed people from all over the world from the Congo

from all over the world from the Congo they opened up prisons in the Congo they

they opened up prisons in the Congo they came into our country totally

came into our country totally unmatched unvetted unchecked and uh from

unmatched unvetted unchecked and uh from all over South America not just South

all over South America not just South America you know you think South America

America you know you think South America no but from all over lot came in from

no but from all over lot came in from Venezuela Venez Venezuela emptied its

Venezuela Venez Venezuela emptied its prison population into our country.

prison population into our country. That's why they have trend dear Ragua.

That's why they have trend dear Ragua. One of the worst gangs ever.

One of the worst gangs ever. But we took care of them. We took good

But we took care of them. We took good strong care of them. And I just want to

strong care of them. And I just want to thank the National Guard in Washington

thank the National Guard in Washington DC. It was It's embarrassing to say this

DC. It was It's embarrassing to say this now. I can say it because we solved it.

now. I can say it because we solved it. But Washington DC was the most unsafe,

But Washington DC was the most unsafe, most dangerous city in the United States

most dangerous city in the United States of America. and to a large extent beyond

of America. and to a large extent beyond and beyond that go to some you go to

and beyond that go to some you go to Afghanistan they didn't have anything

Afghanistan they didn't have anything like that you go to countries that you

like that you go to countries that you would think there's problems they didn't

would think there's problems they didn't have that and now Washington DC after 12

have that and now Washington DC after 12 days

days of serious serious intensity we took out

of serious serious intensity we took out 1 1700 career criminals if you have five

1 1700 career criminals if you have five career criminals they can make your

career criminals they can make your numbers look very bad because they'll

numbers look very bad because they'll commit many crimes a Okay. But we took

commit many crimes a Okay. But we took out 1,700 and they took them out. There

out 1,700 and they took them out. There was no doubt who the boss was. They did

was no doubt who the boss was. They did an unbelievable job. Then they started

an unbelievable job. Then they started even cleaning. I said, "I don't want

even cleaning. I said, "I don't want them doing that, sir. They want to."

them doing that, sir. They want to." They were cleaning it up. I I drove

They were cleaning it up. I I drove through it two days ago. It was

through it two days ago. It was beautiful. People are walking down the

beautiful. People are walking down the street holding hands. Men and wife

street holding hands. Men and wife coming from Iowa. They're not worried

coming from Iowa. They're not worried about being shot. Washington DC is now a

about being shot. Washington DC is now a safe city. In fact, I went out to dinner

safe city. In fact, I went out to dinner with my crew. I I haven't done that.

with my crew. I I haven't done that. theory, I wouldn't do it. And I felt

theory, I wouldn't do it. And I felt totally safe. And nobody's been

totally safe. And nobody's been attacked. Nobody's been hurt. Washington

attacked. Nobody's been hurt. Washington DC went from our most unsafe city to

DC went from our most unsafe city to just about our safest city in a period

just about our safest city in a period of a month. We had it under control in

of a month. We had it under control in 12 days, but give us another 15, 16

12 days, but give us another 15, 16 days. It was it's it's perfect. And

days. It was it's it's perfect. And people other than politicians that look

people other than politicians that look bad, they think, you know, the the

bad, they think, you know, the the Democrats run most of the cities that

Democrats run most of the cities that are in bad shape. We have many cities in

are in bad shape. We have many cities in great shape, too, by the way. I want you

great shape, too, by the way. I want you to know that. But it seems that the ones

to know that. But it seems that the ones that are run by the radical left

that are run by the radical left Democrats, what they've done to San

Democrats, what they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los

Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, they're very unsafe places. And

Angeles, they're very unsafe places. And we're going to straighten them out one

we're going to straighten them out one by one. And this is going to be a major

by one. And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this

part for some of the people in this room. That's a war too. It's a war from

room. That's a war too. It's a war from within. Controlling the physical

within. Controlling the physical territory of our border is essential to

territory of our border is essential to national security. We can't let these

national security. We can't let these people in. You know, we had no people

people in. You know, we had no people enter in the last four months. Zero.

enter in the last four months. Zero. Even I can't believe that. You know, we

Even I can't believe that. You know, we had millions coming in pouring in. 25

had millions coming in pouring in. 25 million all told. And of those 25

million all told. And of those 25 million, many of them should never be in

million, many of them should never be in our country. They would take their worst

our country. They would take their worst people and their people from prisons and

people and their people from prisons and jail and they put them in a caravan and

jail and they put them in a caravan and they'd walk up.

they'd walk up. CNN was interviewing one person. Oh, why

CNN was interviewing one person. Oh, why are you coming? I want freedom. Good.

are you coming? I want freedom. Good. Were you in jail? Yes. For what? Murder.

Were you in jail? Yes. For what? Murder. He said, "You're in for You had to see

He said, "You're in for You had to see this anchor, a young woman." She's like,

this anchor, a young woman." She's like, I couldn't believe she'll probably lose

I couldn't believe she'll probably lose her job, but because the left doesn't

her job, but because the left doesn't want to hear that, but we're running it

want to hear that, but we're running it based on common sense and based on love

based on common sense and based on love of our country. But I want to salute

of our country. But I want to salute every service member who has helped us

every service member who has helped us carry out this critical mission. It's

carry out this critical mission. It's really a very important mission. And I

really a very important mission. And I told Pete, we should use some of these

told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for

dangerous cities as training grounds for our military, National Guard, but

our military, National Guard, but military,

military, because we're going into Chicago very

because we're going into Chicago very soon. That's a big city with an

soon. That's a big city with an incompetent governor. Stupid governor.

incompetent governor. Stupid governor. Stupid. They threw him out of his family

Stupid. They threw him out of his family business. He was so stupid. I know the

business. He was so stupid. I know the family.

family. He becomes governor. He's got money.

He becomes governor. He's got money. Not money that he made. But he ran for

Not money that he made. But he ran for governor. He won. And now he criticizes

governor. He won. And now he criticizes us all the time. And last week they had

us all the time. And last week they had 11 people murdered, 44 people shot. The

11 people murdered, 44 people shot. The week before that they had five people

week before that they had five people murdered, 28 people shot. Every weekend

murdered, 28 people shot. Every weekend they lose five, six, if they lose five,

they lose five, six, if they lose five, they're considering it a great week.

they're considering it a great week. They shouldn't lose any. You shouldn't

They shouldn't lose any. You shouldn't lose any. This is civilization.

lose any. This is civilization. And he's always up there saying, uh,

And he's always up there saying, uh, we're in very good shape. We don't need

we're in very good shape. We don't need the military. No, they need the military

the military. No, they need the military desperately. How about Portland?

desperately. How about Portland? Portland, Oregon, where it looks like a

Portland, Oregon, where it looks like a war zone. And I get a call from the

war zone. And I get a call from the Liberal governor. Sir, please don't come

Liberal governor. Sir, please don't come in. We don't need you. I said, "Well,

in. We don't need you. I said, "Well, unless they're playing false tapes, this

unless they're playing false tapes, this looked like World War II. Your place is

looked like World War II. Your place is burning down.

burning down. I mean, you must be kidding, sir. We

I mean, you must be kidding, sir. We have it under control." I said, "You

have it under control." I said, "You don't have it under control, Governor,

don't have it under control, Governor, but I'll check it and I'll call you

but I'll check it and I'll call you back." I called you back. I said, "You

back." I called you back. I said, "You you this place is a nightmare. It's

you this place is a nightmare. It's probably It's certainly not the biggest,

probably It's certainly not the biggest, but it's one of the worst. It's brutal.

but it's one of the worst. It's brutal. They go after our ICE people who are

They go after our ICE people who are great patriots and tough job too, but

great patriots and tough job too, but they love it. They love it because

they love it. They love it because they're cleaning up our country. And so

they're cleaning up our country. And so you look at some of the things where

you look at some of the things where they took over parts of Seattle. They

they took over parts of Seattle. They actually took over a big percentage of

actually took over a big percentage of Seattle. Think of that. You remember

Seattle. Think of that. You remember that? That was a while ago. And I sent

that? That was a while ago. And I sent in the troops and they were gone as soon

in the troops and they were gone as soon as I sent them in. Oh, when we send in

as I sent them in. Oh, when we send in the troops, if you have a real leader

the troops, if you have a real leader that says you got to do what you have to

that says you got to do what you have to do, I put that out the other day. You

do, I put that out the other day. You got to do what you got to do because we

got to do what you got to do because we don't want our people hurt as they stand

don't want our people hurt as they stand by. I was watching during Biden, they

by. I was watching during Biden, they had troops standing up like this, brave

had troops standing up like this, brave standing up at tension the way I should

standing up at tension the way I should stand all the time. And I like this. And

stand all the time. And I like this. And people are standing, their mouth is this

people are standing, their mouth is this far away from their mouth and they're

far away from their mouth and they're spitting at him and they're screaming at

spitting at him and they're screaming at him. And that soldier standing there, he

him. And that soldier standing there, he wants to knock the hell out of the

wants to knock the hell out of the person, but he's not allowed to do

person, but he's not allowed to do anything. So they just stand there and

anything. So they just stand there and they they get abused. And the a woman

they they get abused. And the a woman was this far away from his face and she

was this far away from his face and she starts spitting in his face and he's not

starts spitting in his face and he's not allowed to do anything. Uh, if it's okay

allowed to do anything. Uh, if it's okay with you, generals and admirals, I've uh

with you, generals and admirals, I've uh taken that off. I say they spit, we hit.

taken that off. I say they spit, we hit. Is that okay? I think so. They spit.

Is that okay? I think so. They spit. It's a new It's a new thing. They spit,

It's a new It's a new thing. They spit, we hit. How about the cars where the

we hit. How about the cars where the cars are coming out? They get brand new

cars are coming out? They get brand new cars, border patrol, ice, beautiful,

cars, border patrol, ice, beautiful, nice new cars.

nice new cars. And they're driving the long and they

And they're driving the long and they have to go through a gauntlet of rocks

have to go through a gauntlet of rocks being thrown at the car. So, here's this

being thrown at the car. So, here's this beautiful brand new car. By the time it

beautiful brand new car. By the time it goes 100 yards, it's destroyed.

goes 100 yards, it's destroyed. These guys have pretty good arms, some

These guys have pretty good arms, some of them. And they're throwing bricks at

of them. And they're throwing bricks at full force into the window and into the

full force into the window and into the car. It looks like it's a war zone. And

car. It looks like it's a war zone. And I said, "Never let that happen again.

I said, "Never let that happen again. From now on, if that ever happens, and I

From now on, if that ever happens, and I say it here, you get out of that car and

say it here, you get out of that car and you can do whatever the hell you want to

you can do whatever the hell you want to do because those people are are, you

do because those people are are, you know, you can die from that. Those

know, you can die from that. Those bricks go through the windows. You can

bricks go through the windows. You can die. They'd like it to they'd like it to

die. They'd like it to they'd like it to go through the window. But this was a

go through the window. But this was a couple of months ago. They just kept

couple of months ago. They just kept driving and bricks are hitting the car.

driving and bricks are hitting the car. And I said, "Why aren't they stopping?"

And I said, "Why aren't they stopping?" Because they were under orders from the

Because they were under orders from the past administration, never stop. But

past administration, never stop. But that's different with us. We we stop.

that's different with us. We we stop. And since I gave that order, we haven't

And since I gave that order, we haven't had that problem. It's very interesting.

had that problem. It's very interesting. It's amazing. It's just like uh in

It's amazing. It's just like uh in Venezuela, you've seen the boats going.

Venezuela, you've seen the boats going. We can't find any more boats. They're

We can't find any more boats. They're they're carrying drugs. Massive. Every

they're carrying drugs. Massive. Every boat kills about 25,000 people. That's

boat kills about 25,000 people. That's what they have. They had fentinol mostly

what they have. They had fentinol mostly and a lot of other drugs. And we take

and a lot of other drugs. And we take them out and we've taken out four. So,

them out and we've taken out four. So, and it's on air. Everybody gets to see.

and it's on air. Everybody gets to see. Not that we like to do that, but every

Not that we like to do that, but every boat kills 25,000 on average 20. Some

boat kills 25,000 on average 20. Some people say more. You know, you see these

people say more. You know, you see these boats stacked up with bags of white

boats stacked up with bags of white powder. It's mostly fentinol and other

powder. It's mostly fentinol and other drugs still.

drugs still. And now we have a problem. Uh General

And now we have a problem. Uh General Kane says, "Sir, there are no boats out

Kane says, "Sir, there are no boats out there. Not even fishing boats. They

there. Not even fishing boats. They don't want to go fishing. I don't blame

don't want to go fishing. I don't blame them. There'll be no fishing today, you

them. There'll be no fishing today, you know. But it's uh amazing what strength

know. But it's uh amazing what strength will do because all we want to do is

will do because all we want to do is stop drugs from flowing into our

stop drugs from flowing into our country. It's destroying. We lost

country. It's destroying. We lost 300,000 people died last year. Everybody

300,000 people died last year. Everybody knows friends, many friends probably

knows friends, many friends probably that you lost a child or adults too, but

that you lost a child or adults too, but you lost a son or daughter because of

you lost a son or daughter because of what's coming into our border. And uh

what's coming into our border. And uh we're making it very hard. Oh, and we

we're making it very hard. Oh, and we haven't even started yet. Last month, I

haven't even started yet. Last month, I signed an executive order to provide

signed an executive order to provide training for quick reaction force that

training for quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This

can help quell civil disturbances. This is going to be a big thing for the

is going to be a big thing for the people in this room because it's the

people in this room because it's the enemy from within. And we have to handle

enemy from within. And we have to handle it before it gets out of control. It

it before it gets out of control. It won't get out of control. Once once

won't get out of control. Once once you're involved, it all they all joke.

you're involved, it all they all joke. They say, "Oh, this is not good." You

They say, "Oh, this is not good." You saw it in Washington. And we had gangs

saw it in Washington. And we had gangs of trend day with 10, 12, 15 kids and

of trend day with 10, 12, 15 kids and these military guys walk up to them and

these military guys walk up to them and they treat them with disrespect and they

they treat them with disrespect and they just got pounded.

just got pounded. They just got pounded. The gang just

They just got pounded. The gang just pounded then thrown into patty wagons

pounded then thrown into patty wagons and taken back to their country.

and taken back to their country. Some are so dangerous we don't want to

Some are so dangerous we don't want to even do that because we don't want to.

even do that because we don't want to. Some of stone cold murders. We don't

Some of stone cold murders. We don't have the confidence even though they're

have the confidence even though they're not coming back very easily. We don't

not coming back very easily. We don't have the confidence. We put them in

have the confidence. We put them in jails. But these service members are

jails. But these service members are following in a great and storied

following in a great and storied military tradition from protecting

military tradition from protecting frontier communities to chasing outlaws

frontier communities to chasing outlaws and bandits and the wild west. And our

and bandits and the wild west. And our history is filled with military heroes

history is filled with military heroes who took on all enemies, foreign and

who took on all enemies, foreign and domestic. You know that phrase

domestic. You know that phrase very well. That's what the oath says,

very well. That's what the oath says, foreign and domestic. Well, we also have

foreign and domestic. Well, we also have domestic. George Washington, Abraham

domestic. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, George Bush,

Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, George Bush, and others all use the armed forces to

and others all use the armed forces to keep domestic order and peace. Many of

keep domestic order and peace. Many of our leaders used the military to keep

our leaders used the military to keep peace. Now, they like to say, "Oh,

peace. Now, they like to say, "Oh, you're not allowed to use the military."

you're not allowed to use the military." And you know what the people say? The

And you know what the people say? The people in those cities where they're

people in those cities where they're being raped and shot and beat up, you

being raped and shot and beat up, you know what they say? We love the milit.

know what they say? We love the milit. You ever see where they interview the

You ever see where they interview the people on the street? I've never seen

people on the street? I've never seen somebody say they don't unless they're

somebody say they don't unless they're radical and paid off because a lot of

radical and paid off because a lot of these insurrectionists are paid by

these insurrectionists are paid by whether it's Soros or other people, but

whether it's Soros or other people, but they're paid by the radical left. So

they're paid by the radical left. So today, I want to thank every service

today, I want to thank every service member from general to private who has

member from general to private who has bravely helped us secure the nation's

bravely helped us secure the nation's capital and make America safe for the

capital and make America safe for the American people. It's amazing. The whole

American people. It's amazing. The whole world is watching. Everybody in the

world is watching. Everybody in the White House, they come up to me, young

White House, they come up to me, young women, sir, thank you. I know

women, sir, thank you. I know immediately what they're thinking. I

immediately what they're thinking. I don't They don't have to say it. They

don't They don't have to say it. They walk to work now to the White House. We

walk to work now to the White House. We haven't had a crime in Washington in so

haven't had a crime in Washington in so long because we got the careers. We call

long because we got the careers. We call them the careers. We got these lunatics

them the careers. We got these lunatics out and they'll never be any good. You

out and they'll never be any good. You know, I hate to tell this to the to the

know, I hate to tell this to the to the liberal media. You could spend time with

liberal media. You could spend time with them. You could do whatever you want.

them. You could do whatever you want. You could send them to the finer

You could send them to the finer schools, which they couldn't get into

schools, which they couldn't get into anyway mentally. They couldn't get in.

anyway mentally. They couldn't get in. But no matter what you do, they'll never

But no matter what you do, they'll never be good. They're bad. They're they're

be good. They're bad. They're they're career criminals. They I don't know.

career criminals. They I don't know. Maybe they were born that way. Some

Maybe they were born that way. Some people don't like me to say that, but

people don't like me to say that, but maybe they were. Certainly, some were.

maybe they were. Certainly, some were. Together with the leaders here today,

Together with the leaders here today, we're also restoring a needed focus on

we're also restoring a needed focus on defeating threats in the Western

defeating threats in the Western Hemisphere. Throughout this region,

Hemisphere. Throughout this region, cartel terrorists have been allowed to

cartel terrorists have been allowed to wage a relentless campaign of death and

wage a relentless campaign of death and destruction on our country. All because

destruction on our country. All because we had weak leadership on top. And we

we had weak leadership on top. And we did a great job with it first term. But

did a great job with it first term. But uh this is something else what we're

uh this is something else what we're doing now. We're taking it to the next

doing now. We're taking it to the next level probably next level times three.

level probably next level times three. But we had CO come up and we had to take

But we had CO come up and we had to take care of that. We did a great job with

care of that. We did a great job with CO. We had the uh therapeutics

CO. We had the uh therapeutics was just regeneron so many things we did

was just regeneron so many things we did for CO but we had to focus on that and

for CO but we had to focus on that and every other country in the world was

every other country in the world was being decimated by CO so we had to

being decimated by CO so we had to change gear a little bit to take care of

change gear a little bit to take care of that but under our leadership the

that but under our leadership the military is now the knife's edge in

military is now the knife's edge in combating this sinister enemy we have to

combating this sinister enemy we have to put the traffickers and cartels on

put the traffickers and cartels on notice and we've done that and we put

notice and we've done that and we put them a lot of them we've uh called them

them a lot of them we've uh called them a terrorist organization, which is

a terrorist organization, which is actually a big thing to do. Nobody's

actually a big thing to do. Nobody's done it, but I've done it with a lot of

done it, but I've done it with a lot of them. It gives you a tremendous

them. It gives you a tremendous advantage. If you try to poison our

advantage. If you try to poison our people, we will blow you out of

people, we will blow you out of existence because that's the only

existence because that's the only language they really understand. That's

language they really understand. That's why you don't see any more boats on the

why you don't see any more boats on the ocean. You don't see any boats around

ocean. You don't see any boats around Venezuela. There's nothing.

Venezuela. There's nothing. As president, I will never hesitate to

As president, I will never hesitate to defend our people from threats of of

defend our people from threats of of violence, from the uh the horrible

violence, from the uh the horrible plague that's taking place from within.

plague that's taking place from within. The Iran nuclear

The Iran nuclear power, the Iran, all of the the great

power, the Iran, all of the the great power that we thought existed, we blew

power that we thought existed, we blew it out to Kingdom. We took advantage of

it out to Kingdom. We took advantage of it and we just really took advantage of

it and we just really took advantage of it and it was a beautiful thing to see

it and it was a beautiful thing to see and

and that's what military power can achieve.

that's what military power can achieve. That's why I chose Raisin Kane. He's

That's why I chose Raisin Kane. He's fantastic by the way. I hope you all

fantastic by the way. I hope you all agree. If anybody disagrees, could I

agree. If anybody disagrees, could I please have your hand? Who disappears

please have your hand? Who disappears that Raisin Kane is no good? Just raise

that Raisin Kane is no good? Just raise your hand. I don't see any hands raised.

your hand. I don't see any hands raised. All right. That means you're okay. That

All right. That means you're okay. That means that he's okay now. But I saw his

means that he's okay now. But I saw his results. You know, he he took out ISIS.

results. You know, he he took out ISIS. I was told it was going to take four

I was told it was going to take four years. It took four weeks. I went to see

years. It took four weeks. I went to see him and he took him out in four weeks.

him and he took him out in four weeks. Knocked him out. Knocked him to hell.

Knocked him out. Knocked him to hell. And I was told by military people it was

And I was told by military people it was going to take four to five years to do

going to take four to five years to do it. And I don't even know if we'll have

it. And I don't even know if we'll have it then, sir. These were the Washington

it then, sir. These were the Washington generals. I call them the television

generals. I call them the television generals. But Raisin Kane did it in four

generals. But Raisin Kane did it in four weeks. took out 100% of the ISIS

weeks. took out 100% of the ISIS caliphate. As a result of these actions

caliphate. As a result of these actions and many others since my inauguration,

and many others since my inauguration, we're witnessing the triumphant return

we're witnessing the triumphant return of peace through strength. We have great

of peace through strength. We have great peace through strength. America is

peace through strength. America is respected again as a country. We were

respected again as a country. We were not respected with Biden. They looked at

not respected with Biden. They looked at him falling downstairs every day. Every

him falling downstairs every day. Every day the guy's falling downstairs. He

day the guy's falling downstairs. He said, "It's not our president. We can't

said, "It's not our president. We can't have it." I I'm very careful. You know,

have it." I I'm very careful. You know, when I walk downstairs for like I'm on

when I walk downstairs for like I'm on stairs like these stairs. I'm very I

stairs like these stairs. I'm very I walk very slowly.

walk very slowly. Nobody has to set a record. Just try not

Nobody has to set a record. Just try not to fall cuz it doesn't work out well. A

to fall cuz it doesn't work out well. A few of our presidents have fallen and it

few of our presidents have fallen and it became a part of their legacy. We don't

became a part of their legacy. We don't want that. You walk nice and easy.

want that. You walk nice and easy. You're not have you don't have to set

You're not have you don't have to set any record. Be cool. Be cool when you

any record. Be cool. Be cool when you walk down, but don't don't bop down the

walk down, but don't don't bop down the stairs. So, one thing with Obama, I have

stairs. So, one thing with Obama, I have zero respect for him as a president, but

zero respect for him as a president, but he would bop down those stairs. I've

he would bop down those stairs. I've never said,

never said, you go down the stairs, wouldn't hold

you go down the stairs, wouldn't hold on. I said, "It's great. I don't want to

on. I said, "It's great. I don't want to do it. I guess I could do it, but

do it. I guess I could do it, but eventually bad things are going to

eventually bad things are going to happen, and it only takes once." But he

happen, and it only takes once." But he did a lousy job as president.

did a lousy job as president. A year ago, we were a dead country. We

A year ago, we were a dead country. We were dead. This country was going to

were dead. This country was going to hell. We were dead in every way from

hell. We were dead in every way from immigration to military. We didn't have

immigration to military. We didn't have the weapons. We given everything to uh

the weapons. We given everything to uh we've given everything to Ukraine. We

we've given everything to Ukraine. We had nothing. And by the way, I have to

had nothing. And by the way, I have to tell you now, as you know, I went over

tell you now, as you know, I went over and I met with NATO and NATO raised from

and I met with NATO and NATO raised from two to five, which everyone said 5% of

two to five, which everyone said 5% of GDP.

GDP. millions and now trillions of dollars

millions and now trillions of dollars are pouring in. They didn't pay the 2%

are pouring in. They didn't pay the 2% because they know we were there to pay

because they know we were there to pay it and now they paid the 5%. That's

it and now they paid the 5%. That's trillions of dollars and we're not

trillions of dollars and we're not spending any money on that war. Not 10

spending any money on that war. Not 10 cents. We sell our equipment to NATO.

cents. We sell our equipment to NATO. NATO pays us for the equipment and they

NATO pays us for the equipment and they give it to Ukraine or whoever they give

give it to Ukraine or whoever they give it to that. They can keep it, but we're

it to that. They can keep it, but we're not involved. We have no money going

not involved. We have no money going out. Biden gave $350 billion dollars.

out. Biden gave $350 billion dollars. Not sustainable. 350 billion and uh we

Not sustainable. 350 billion and uh we have a war that should have never

have a war that should have never started, but we're not doing that

started, but we're not doing that anymore. So, I just want you to know

anymore. So, I just want you to know we're selling equipment. Our people are

we're selling equipment. Our people are buying equipment. They're buying they

buying equipment. They're buying they are buying the equipment at at full

are buying the equipment at at full price, a fair price. So, I don't want to

price, a fair price. So, I don't want to say we're making money because I don't

say we're making money because I don't want to say I don't want to be making

want to say I don't want to be making money on a war. It's too many people

money on a war. It's too many people dying. They're losing 7,000 soldiers a

dying. They're losing 7,000 soldiers a week. A lot of them are Russian

week. A lot of them are Russian soldiers, but between the two countries,

soldiers, but between the two countries, mostly soldiers, by the way. Sometimes,

mostly soldiers, by the way. Sometimes, you know, they'll lob a missile in or

you know, they'll lob a missile in or some drones in, kill some people, but

some drones in, kill some people, but mostly it's soldiers. Russia and Ukraine

mostly it's soldiers. Russia and Ukraine are losing 7,000 souls. And you know,

are losing 7,000 souls. And you know, they're not uh they're not American.

they're not uh they're not American. They're not us. They're not you or have

They're not us. They're not you or have a special obligation, but they're

a special obligation, but they're soldiers. They're young people. They

soldiers. They're young people. They leave their parents. They wave goodbye.

leave their parents. They wave goodbye. and then two days later they're blown up

and then two days later they're blown up so unnecessarily.

so unnecessarily. And so that's the primary reason I want

And so that's the primary reason I want to get it done. Uh we got to get it

to get it done. Uh we got to get it done. It's crazy what's going on. That's

done. It's crazy what's going on. That's the worst war that there's been since

the worst war that there's been since World War II. The number of soldiers

World War II. The number of soldiers that are being killed there is just

that are being killed there is just crazy. From 5 to 7,000 soldiers die a

crazy. From 5 to 7,000 soldiers die a week. Think of that.

week. Think of that. So I think we'll get that done. But

So I think we'll get that done. But that's turned out to be the toughest

that's turned out to be the toughest one. I'm so disappointed in President

one. I'm so disappointed in President Putin. And I thought I thought he would

Putin. And I thought I thought he would get this thing over with. He should have

get this thing over with. He should have had that war done in a week.

had that war done in a week. And I said to him, you know, you you

And I said to him, you know, you you don't look good. You're four years

don't look good. You're four years fighting a war that should have taken a

fighting a war that should have taken a week. Are you a paper tiger?

week. Are you a paper tiger? And uh it's a shame, but I think

And uh it's a shame, but I think eventually we'll get that one done just

eventually we'll get that one done just like we in theory. I want to knock on

like we in theory. I want to knock on wood because you never know. It's like

wood because you never know. It's like we're going to have the Middle East

we're going to have the Middle East done, which is actually a much harder

done, which is actually a much harder thing to do. I mean, thousands of years,

thing to do. I mean, thousands of years, but we have to get that war done. So now

but we have to get that war done. So now we're,

we're, just think of it, we're a dead country.

just think of it, we're a dead country. I was with the king of Saudi Arabia,

I was with the king of Saudi Arabia, great guy. I was with the Amir of Qatar.

great guy. I was with the Amir of Qatar. I was with the great leadership of UAE.

I was with the great leadership of UAE. I was over there. We brought back uh $2

I was over there. We brought back uh $2 trillion dollars

trillion dollars and more.

and more. They ordered 200 planes, Boeings. They

They ordered 200 planes, Boeings. They ordered so much and they were great. But

ordered so much and they were great. But they all said essentially the same

they all said essentially the same thing. They said, "One year ago,

thing. They said, "One year ago, you were a dead country and now you're

you were a dead country and now you're the hottest country anywhere in the

the hottest country anywhere in the world." We are. We're the hottest

world." We are. We're the hottest country in the world right now. The

country in the world right now. The absolute hottest country in the world.

absolute hottest country in the world. We have there's nobody even close.

We have there's nobody even close. Putin said that to me. We met in Alaska.

Putin said that to me. We met in Alaska. Had a good meeting. Then he went back

Had a good meeting. Then he went back and started sending drones into Kiev. I

and started sending drones into Kiev. I said, I thought we had a good meeting.

said, I thought we had a good meeting. But it's one of those things. But we

But it's one of those things. But we were a dead country

were a dead country a year ago and now we're the hottest

a year ago and now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world. Think of

country anywhere in the world. Think of that.

Good meeting. But it's one of those things. But we were dead country

things. But we were dead country a year ago and now we're the hottest

a year ago and now we're the hottest country anywhere in the world. Think of

country anywhere in the world. Think of that. You could be proud of that. And

that. You could be proud of that. And you must have felt like hell when you

you must have felt like hell when you have a wife or a husband at home and you

have a wife or a husband at home and you used to read the numbers that we can't

used to read the numbers that we can't get people to join the army, navy, air

get people to join the army, navy, air force, marines, coast guard.

force, marines, coast guard. Uh you must have felt like, you know, I

Uh you must have felt like, you know, I have a job that nobody wants. That

have a job that nobody wants. That doesn't feel good. Well, now you have a

doesn't feel good. Well, now you have a job that is brimming over with people

job that is brimming over with people wanting it. They want it. and you're

wanting it. They want it. and you're able to get a much higher quality

able to get a much higher quality because now you have your choice. You

because now you have your choice. You know, you want so many and we're gonna

know, you want so many and we're gonna have many many people that aren't going

have many many people that aren't going to be able to join because of the fact

to be able to join because of the fact that we don't, you know, we don't need

that we don't, you know, we don't need them at this moment. But think of it how

them at this moment. But think of it how what a difference that is from I could

what a difference that is from I could just imagine two years ago you're

just imagine two years ago you're reading front page articles in the New

reading front page articles in the New York Times of course and Wall Street

York Times of course and Wall Street Journal. They always give us unfair

Journal. They always give us unfair stories, but they played it so big. They

stories, but they played it so big. They were playing it so big. Nobody wants to

were playing it so big. Nobody wants to join the army, the Marines, the Air

join the army, the Marines, the Air Force. They want They don't want to

Force. They want They don't want to join.

join. They don't want to join the Coast Guard

They don't want to join the Coast Guard at all.

at all. Nobody wants to join. Nobody wants to

Nobody wants to join. Nobody wants to join our police forces. Our police

join our police forces. Our police forces also. It's almost went hand in

forces also. It's almost went hand in hand. And I used to say, boy, you know,

hand. And I used to say, boy, you know, I'm speaking in front of the military

I'm speaking in front of the military today, and it's embarrassing because I'm

today, and it's embarrassing because I'm speaking in front of people who have a

speaking in front of people who have a job that other people don't want, but

job that other people don't want, but now you have a job that everybody wants.

now you have a job that everybody wants. So, I think that has to make you feel

So, I think that has to make you feel good. It's one of the reasons I love

good. It's one of the reasons I love being here today because I wanted to say

being here today because I wanted to say that I have to say that everybody wants

that I have to say that everybody wants to be in the Army, the Navy, the Air

to be in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines.

Force, the Marines. If you think the Coast Guard and Space

If you think the Coast Guard and Space Force, our beautiful Space Force, it's a

Force, our beautiful Space Force, it's a whole different world. And now they're

whole different world. And now they're signing up, by the way. Seriously big

signing up, by the way. Seriously big numbers for the police. Dangerous job,

numbers for the police. Dangerous job, isn't it? Fire department. But that's

isn't it? Fire department. But that's the paving the way for progress. Once

the paving the way for progress. Once thought almost impossible. I mean, a

thought almost impossible. I mean, a year ago, you wouldn't have thought that

year ago, you wouldn't have thought that was possible. A year ago, uh, they were

was possible. A year ago, uh, they were talking about making the military

talking about making the military smaller because they can't get the

smaller because they can't get the people to join. We're thinking about

people to join. We're thinking about making it larger because we have so many

making it larger because we have so many people and it's nice to be able to cut

people and it's nice to be able to cut people because of merit that aren't

people because of merit that aren't really qualified for

really qualified for any reason, a physical reason, a mental

any reason, a physical reason, a mental reason.

reason. You don't have to take them anymore

You don't have to take them anymore because you have you have the pick of

because you have you have the pick of the litter

the litter and they all want to be with you. They

and they all want to be with you. They all want your job. They want to be with

all want your job. They want to be with you. They want to work with you.

you. They want to work with you. They'll even take your job. You know,

They'll even take your job. You know, got to be a little bit sharp. You got to

got to be a little bit sharp. You got to watch it. But everybody wants to be

watch it. But everybody wants to be doing what you're doing now. What a

doing what you're doing now. What a difference when I speak to you and I can

difference when I speak to you and I can say that as opposed to a couple of years

say that as opposed to a couple of years ago when I was talking to rooms where

ago when I was talking to rooms where they were desperate to get people and

they were desperate to get people and they couldn't get them. What a

they couldn't get them. What a difference a presidential election can

difference a presidential election can make. That's all it is. It's just a

make. That's all it is. It's just a presidential election. Yesterday at the

presidential election. Yesterday at the White House, we put forward a plan for

White House, we put forward a plan for peace in Gaza. We announced it and we're

peace in Gaza. We announced it and we're going to create something. That was my

going to create something. That was my idea, but unfortunately I got drafted.

idea, but unfortunately I got drafted. It's going to be called the Board of

It's going to be called the Board of Peace and it's going to rain over that

Peace and it's going to rain over that territory. And uh we're going to get

territory. And uh we're going to get that done. And they asked if I'd be the

that done. And they asked if I'd be the chairman of the Board of Peace. I wasn't

chairman of the Board of Peace. I wasn't counting on that. I had the idea for the

counting on that. I had the idea for the Board of Peace, but I'd said yes. And I

Board of Peace, but I'd said yes. And I guess because of that, every leader,

guess because of that, every leader, every everybody wants to be on the board

every everybody wants to be on the board of peace. And we're going to watch over

of peace. And we're going to watch over that very volatile part of the world and

that very volatile part of the world and keep it nonvolatile so you don't have to

keep it nonvolatile so you don't have to get involved. We want to save you for

get involved. We want to save you for other things or save you for nothing

other things or save you for nothing from that standpoint. We don't want you

from that standpoint. We don't want you fighting wars, but if you have to,

fighting wars, but if you have to, you're going to be you're the most

you're going to be you're the most lethal fighting force in the world. And

lethal fighting force in the world. And I would say that even two, three years

I would say that even two, three years ago, but now I say it with great

ago, but now I say it with great enthusiasm. It's so true. And we're

enthusiasm. It's so true. And we're striving tirelessly to end the terrible

striving tirelessly to end the terrible war in Ukraine. And as you know, we're

war in Ukraine. And as you know, we're also working hard to get the allies to

also working hard to get the allies to share more of the burden of our defense.

share more of the burden of our defense. Much of that has really already taken

Much of that has really already taken place, but all NATO members have

place, but all NATO members have committed to the increase that I talked

committed to the increase that I talked about. Think of that. That was

about. Think of that. That was unthinkable. It used to be 1%, then we

unthinkable. It used to be 1%, then we got it up to two in my last term,

got it up to two in my last term, and uh they did not like it. And now I

and uh they did not like it. And now I got it to five. And I get along great

got it to five. And I get along great with all of them. In fact, they call me

with all of them. In fact, they call me the president of NATO. I said, "I don't

the president of NATO. I said, "I don't think so." But they're great. They're

think so." But they're great. They're great people and they're spending a lot

great people and they're spending a lot of they're spending a lot of money and a

of they're spending a lot of money and a lot of money that they should have been

lot of money that they should have been spending in the past. But I think Putin

spending in the past. But I think Putin was a wakeup call for them really. We're

was a wakeup call for them really. We're now selling large quantities of

now selling large quantities of Americanmade weapons to NATO and we're

Americanmade weapons to NATO and we're getting uh really fair pricing. We're

getting uh really fair pricing. We're making a lot of money. It's my hope that

making a lot of money. It's my hope that from Europe to Asia to the Middle East,

from Europe to Asia to the Middle East, our allies will make similar commitments

our allies will make similar commitments to increase their military capabilities

to increase their military capabilities and this will greatly strengthen our

and this will greatly strengthen our alliances and also it will make war far

alliances and also it will make war far less likely. You know, if you have a

less likely. You know, if you have a strong if you're a strong presence like

strong if you're a strong presence like we are, we are such a strong presence

we are, we are such a strong presence now. And I go around bragging about

now. And I go around bragging about that. I said we have the strongest

that. I said we have the strongest military anywhere in the world. I say

military anywhere in the world. I say it. You never heard Biden say that.

it. You never heard Biden say that. Never heard him say anything, but you

Never heard him say anything, but you never heard him say, did he ever hear

never heard him say, did he ever hear him say, "We have the strongest

him say, "We have the strongest military." He doesn't say that. I say

military." He doesn't say that. I say it. We have the strongest military

it. We have the strongest military anywhere in the world. We have great

anywhere in the world. We have great leadership. And I'll tell you, Pete and

leadership. And I'll tell you, Pete and General Kaine, all of the people that

General Kaine, all of the people that I've met that have been lifted up in

I've met that have been lifted up in rank, and we got many of them out of

rank, and we got many of them out of here, too. I'll be honest with you.

here, too. I'll be honest with you. Didn't like doing it, but we got many of

Didn't like doing it, but we got many of you out of here because we weren't

you out of here because we weren't satisfied. We have we know everything

satisfied. We have we know everything about everybody. It'll also help the

about everybody. It'll also help the United States rapidly rebuild our

United States rapidly rebuild our defense industrial base. Each of you can

defense industrial base. Each of you can play an important part in getting allies

play an important part in getting allies to do their part. So to that end,

to do their part. So to that end, Secretary Hegth will soon be announcing

Secretary Hegth will soon be announcing major reforms to streamline military

major reforms to streamline military acquisitions and expedite foreign

acquisitions and expedite foreign military sales. We have tremendous

military sales. We have tremendous numbers of countries that want to buy

numbers of countries that want to buy our equipment and you know many cases it

our equipment and you know many cases it takes too long. They have backlogged

takes too long. They have backlogged we're backlogged on all the equipment

we're backlogged on all the equipment which is something that's new to us a

which is something that's new to us a little bit. And I told those companies

little bit. And I told those companies you better get your ass going because

you better get your ass going because we're you know we're buying we're

we're you know we're buying we're selling you a lot of equipment. We're

selling you a lot of equipment. We're getting countries to buy your equipment.

getting countries to buy your equipment. You got to produce the equipment. Some

You got to produce the equipment. Some of the countries are not going to

of the countries are not going to mention but some of the countries are

mention but some of the countries are buying a lot and that's a good thing.

buying a lot and that's a good thing. They're on our side

They're on our side 95%. I'll never say 100% because they

95%. I'll never say 100% because they can always turn right you know about

can always turn right you know about that but they're on our side. The

that but they're on our side. The problem is we have to get the companies

problem is we have to get the companies that make this equipment and we we make

that make this equipment and we we make the best equipment in the world but they

the best equipment in the world but they got to make it faster.

got to make it faster. We have orders for the F-35. We have

We have orders for the F-35. We have orders for everything. The new F-47. And

orders for everything. The new F-47. And we have orders for everything. They got

we have orders for everything. They got to make it faster. A lot faster.

to make it faster. A lot faster. Ammunition. They have to make faster. In

Ammunition. They have to make faster. In the coming months, we'll be making even

the coming months, we'll be making even more historic announcements to fully

more historic announcements to fully embrace the identity of the Department

embrace the identity of the Department of War. I love the name. I think it's so

of War. I love the name. I think it's so great. I think it stops wars. The

great. I think it stops wars. The Department of War is going to stop wars.

Department of War is going to stop wars. If we are as ruthless and relentless as

If we are as ruthless and relentless as our enemies, the United States armed

our enemies, the United States armed forces will be totally unmatched in the

forces will be totally unmatched in the future. We have a group of enemies that

future. We have a group of enemies that are very ruthless

are very ruthless and very smart, but they can't match us.

and very smart, but they can't match us. They can't match us. They don't even

They can't match us. They don't even come close to matching us. Again, you

come close to matching us. Again, you know, it's very important for me to say

know, it's very important for me to say we have the greatest military in the

we have the greatest military in the world, but we make the best equipment in

world, but we make the best equipment in the world.

the world. I watched our anti-missile missiles. I

I watched our anti-missile missiles. I watched our patriots just knock things

watched our patriots just knock things out like a needle hitting another needle

out like a needle hitting another needle on the stage. There's a needle up there

on the stage. There's a needle up there and you send another needle up and it

and you send another needle up and it hits it every time. During the war, we

hits it every time. During the war, we went 14 for 14. We had 14. This is with

went 14 for 14. We had 14. This is with Iran. We had 14 missiles coming at us.

Iran. We had 14 missiles coming at us. All 14 were knocked out of the sky.

All 14 were knocked out of the sky. Every one of them.

Every one of them. We make the best equipment. From Sparta

We make the best equipment. From Sparta to Rome to the British Empire to the

to Rome to the British Empire to the United States of America, history has

United States of America, history has shown that military supremacy has never

shown that military supremacy has never been simply a matter of money or

been simply a matter of money or manpower. At the end of the day, it is

manpower. At the end of the day, it is the culture spirit of our military that

the culture spirit of our military that truly sets us apart from any other

truly sets us apart from any other nation. Our ultimate strength will

nation. Our ultimate strength will always come from the fierce people and

always come from the fierce people and those brilliant people with such pride

those brilliant people with such pride and the unbending will and the

and the unbending will and the traditions of excellence that have made

traditions of excellence that have made us the most unstoppable force ever to

us the most unstoppable force ever to walk the face of the earth. And that's

walk the face of the earth. And that's what we are. Remember, we never want to

what we are. Remember, we never want to use it, but we have the most powerful

use it, but we have the most powerful nuclear capability and I call it nuclear

nuclear capability and I call it nuclear deterrent of any other country. Nobody

deterrent of any other country. Nobody close. The men and women in this room

close. The men and women in this room inherit the legacy built and won by

inherit the legacy built and won by Washington and Jackson, Grant and

Washington and Jackson, Grant and Persing, Eisenhower and Patton, Nimttz

Persing, Eisenhower and Patton, Nimttz and Lame. We carry forward the majestic

and Lame. We carry forward the majestic military heritage passed down from

military heritage passed down from father to son, soldier to soldier, and

father to son, soldier to soldier, and one generation of warriors to the next.

one generation of warriors to the next. You are warriors. You know that, right?

You are warriors. You know that, right? You're great warriors

You're great warriors or you wouldn't be in this room. You're

or you wouldn't be in this room. You're the best of the best. From Concord

the best of the best. From Concord Bridge to Fort Mckenry, from Gettysburg

Bridge to Fort Mckenry, from Gettysburg to Manila Bay, from Normandy to Sicily,

to Manila Bay, from Normandy to Sicily, and from the jungles of Vietnam to the

and from the jungles of Vietnam to the dusty streets of Baghdad,

dusty streets of Baghdad, America's military has charged into

America's military has charged into hellfire, climbed up jagged mountains,

hellfire, climbed up jagged mountains, crossed roaring oceans, and thundered

crossed roaring oceans, and thundered across open deserts to defend our flag,

across open deserts to defend our flag, our freedom, and our homeland. Nobody

our freedom, and our homeland. Nobody does it like you. Now we are discovering

does it like you. Now we are discovering American muscle, reasserting American

American muscle, reasserting American might, and beginning the next story

might, and beginning the next story chapter in American military legends and

chapter in American military legends and lore. That's L O R E.

lore. That's L O R E. It is lore. When it comes to defending

It is lore. When it comes to defending our way of life, nothing will slow us.

our way of life, nothing will slow us. No enemy will stop us. They're not they

No enemy will stop us. They're not they cannot stop us. And no adversary will

cannot stop us. And no adversary will stand in our way. They won't stand in

stand in our way. They won't stand in our way. We don't want them to stand in

our way. We don't want them to stand in our way. We don't want to even put them

our way. We don't want to even put them in that position. But they're not going

in that position. But they're not going to stand in our way ever again. You'll

to stand in our way ever again. You'll never see four years like we had with

never see four years like we had with Biden and that group of incompetent

Biden and that group of incompetent people that ran this country that should

people that ran this country that should have never been there because we had the

have never been there because we had the United States military, the best, the

United States military, the best, the oldest, the bravest that the world has

oldest, the bravest that the world has ever seen, that the world has ever

ever seen, that the world has ever known.

known. With leaders like we have right here in

With leaders like we have right here in this beautiful room today, we will

this beautiful room today, we will vanquish every danger and crush every

vanquish every danger and crush every threat to our freedom in every

threat to our freedom in every generation to come because we will

generation to come because we will fight, fight, fight and we will win,

fight, fight, fight and we will win, win.

win. I want to just thank you once again and

I want to just thank you once again and God bless the United States military and

God bless the United States military and God bless America. God bless you all.

God bless America. God bless you all. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you. [Music]

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YouTube Transcript:LIVE: U.S. Defens Secretary Pete Hegseth Speaks to Military Leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico

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LIVE: U.S. Defens Secretary Pete Hegseth Speaks to Military Leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico