Up to date Sept. 30, 2026, 6:41 p.m. ET
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth lashed out about transgender troops, disparaged variety initiatives and criticized the information media in a speech to U.S. service members gathered on the Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The handle, dubbed the “State of the Power,” was promoted by the Pentagon as an opportunity for Hegseth to put out his priorities for the approaching 12 months. As an alternative, it largely gave him an opportunity to air his long-held grievances and considerations concerning the navy’s tradition.
“The ideological clowns are out, the patriotic cowboys are in,” Hegseth stated. “Range will not be our energy, unity is our energy as a result of that’s all that basically issues when the missiles are flying.”
Although Hegseth began the handle by specializing in tradition points within the navy, he introduced a number of modernization initiatives.
The Pentagon will set up a brand new autonomous warfare four-star combatant command that’s “constructed to scale autonomous and robotic capabilities throughout the Joint Power within the quickest peacetime shift in fashionable navy historical past,” Hegseth stated.
He additionally stated the navy will solicit proposals for the “subsequent nice American base” and launch an effort co-directed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to review what technological capabilities are wanted for the way forward for warfare.
Hegseth returned to the tradition points by disparaging elite faculties and universities, which he accused of selling crucial race concept. He stated the Pentagon would companion with greater schooling establishments resembling Louisiana State College, Liberty College, and Tuskegee College to develop the subsequent technology of patriotic leaders.
“We’d like college students of Western civilization within the pillars of our Republic,” Hegseth stated. “Leaders who perceive the religion of Jerusalem, the philosophy of Athens, the ability of Rome, and the liberty of Philadelphia, circa 1776.”
Initially of the “State of the Power” occasion, roughly 600 service members in attendance have been handed books that contained a group of a few of Hegseth’s former speeches. The e-book additionally featured a foreword from President Donald Trump.
Hegseth’s handle largely echoed the occasion that the Protection Division hosted a 12 months earlier, when generals and admirals have been flown in from all around the world to listen to speeches from Trump and Hegseth.
This 12 months, Trump didn’t attend the occasion. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees Dan Caine delivered introductory remarks to the troops earlier than inviting Hegseth to take the stage.
A former Fox Information host, Hegseth known as members of the media “anti-American losers” and accused U.S. information retailers of constructing “Iranian state media look affordable.”
“So-called journalists, juiced up on Trump Derangement Syndrome, assume they’re preventing in opposition to our President, however they’re actually undermining you, our warfighters,” he stated.
Hegseth, who instructed troops that “lethality is your calling card,” made no point out in his speech of the U.S. airstrike on an Iranian main college that killed greater than 100 youngsters firstly of the struggle in Iran.
The struggle in Iran, which has killed 1000’s of Iranians and no less than 18 U.S. troops, has grow to be deeply unpopular among the many American public. The struggle has dragged on for greater than seven months, far longer than the Trump administration’s preliminary estimate on the onset of the struggle.
The extended battle has additionally taken a toll on service members stationed within the Center East. Service members aboard the united statesS. Abraham Lincoln provider strike group reported poor circumstances and low morale amid a record-long period of time at sea. Eight sailors on the Lincoln tried suicide throughout its deployment, in keeping with the Navy.
Hegseth, who served within the Iraq Warfare as an infantry officer, used the speech to painting himself as a Pentagon chief who might relate to the navy’s rank-and-file. He introduced a “lengthy overdue” 20% lower to positions reserved for generals and admirals, arguing that “you possibly can’t change a tradition with the identical individuals who enabled it.”
Earlier than the handle, Hegseth participated in a morning exercise on the Pentagon parade subject with roughly 600 service members, jogging and doing push-ups alongside troops as all of them wore similar grey T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase: “That is Warfare.”
In his speech, Hegseth stated that there was no place for “fatties” within the Pentagon and stated that he has empowered navy leaders at each degree to implement his requirements with out having to “stroll on eggshells.”
“We’re now not the woke division or the weak division,” Hegseth stated. “No beardos, no weirdoes, no wimps, no radicals – simply warriors.”
