Pete Hegseth said the United States is rebuilding its global standing and restoring deterrence after years of weakened credibility, arguing that decisive military action under President Donald Trump has reshaped how adversaries view American power.
In remarks addressing the President, Hegseth said the Department of War has been tasked with reversing the damage done to U.S. deterrence following recent international crises.
“Well, Mr. President, you, you had to, like so many other cabinet members have referenced, rebuild the perception of America and at the Department of War, that meant reestablishing deterrence,” Hegseth said.
He pointed to multiple global flashpoints as evidence of what he described as failures that would not have occurred under Trump.
“What happened in Afghanistan? What happened in Ukraine, a war that never would have occurred? What happened on October 7 in Israel never would have happened under President Trump,” Hegseth said.
According to Hegseth, those events forced the administration to confront how adversaries now perceive the United States and take action to reverse it.
“So as a result, we’re having to rebuild how our enemies perceive us,” he said.
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Hegseth said President Trump’s directives have been clear and enforced without ambiguity, beginning with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“And when President Trump said, we’re not getting a nuclear Iran, you won’t have a nuclear bomb, he meant it,” Hegseth said.
“And we sent those B2s halfway around the world, and they never noticed.”
He also said Trump’s stance on drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere has been met with direct military action.
“When he said, we’re not going to tolerate trafficking drugs anymore in our hemisphere,” Hegseth said.
“We treat them like the al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere, he meant it, and we’re executing that.”
Hegseth said the military has also played a role in securing the U.S. border alongside civilian agencies.
“When you said, Mr. President, we’re securing President, we’re securing the border, the military was proud to do their part alongside Homeland Security, to do that same thing,” he said.
Turning back to Iran, Hegseth said the military is maintaining pressure while keeping diplomatic options open.
“With with Iran right now, ensuring that they have all the options to make a deal,” Hegseth said.
“They should not pursue nuclear capabilities.”
He said the Department of War is fully prepared to carry out the President’s expectations.
“And we will be prepared to deliver whatever this President expects of the War Department,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth highlighted a recent military operation as an example of U.S. capabilities, calling it unmatched in scope and execution.
“Just like we did this month, no other military in the world could have, could have executed the most sophisticated, powerful raid, not just in American history,” he said.
“I would say, in world history.”
He described the operation in detail, emphasizing its secrecy and coordination.
“What those men did going downtown another country, their most secure place in the most secure base in the middle of the night, without anybody knowing, until those simultaneous bombs dropped three minutes before the helicopters dropped,” Hegseth said.
He said such operations send a clear signal to adversaries worldwide.
“No other country could coordinate that no other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth concluded by saying the message is unmistakable.
“And that sends a message to every capital around the world that when President Trump speaks, he means business,” he said.
“And we are reestablishing deterrence at the War Department. Mr. President.”
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