Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reflected on the “act of savage evil” of the 9/11 attacks while taking a swipe at what he called “nebulous missions” ordered by previous administrations.
He also used a portion of his remarks at the Pentagon to pay tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed Wednesday.
“The life, example, and even death of Christ-follower and American patriot Charlie Kirk give me hope.”
“Full heart, clear eyes — like those on 9/11, you will never be forgotten,” Hegseth said.
The defense secretary also reflected on his own military service, telling the audience he watched the 9/11 attacks as an Army ROTC officer while a junior in college.
“Like too many Americans, I was naive to the threats brewing abroad and infiltrating our shores, but from that day forward, I felt an unshakable call to action, a duty to defend our sacred homeland with everything I had,” he said. “Like all of you, 9/11 was the ultimate validator to serve.”
And Hegseth said that the Trump administration was committed to “learning the correct lessons of that day and the decades of courage that followed.”
“War must not become a mere tool for global social work, eager to risk American blood and treasure from utopian fever dreams,” he said.
“We should hit hard, wreak vengeance and return home. For two decades, our warriors fought with valor, valor every day, far from home, even though sometimes their leaders gave them nation-building missions and half-baked exits. Thankfully, today we have an American military that President Trump has now rebuilt twice.”