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[00:00:00] at the War Department. [00:00:02] If I've learned one core lesson in my [00:00:04] eight months in this job, it's that [00:00:06] personnel is policy. [00:00:08] Personnel is policy. [00:00:11] The best way to take care of troops is [00:00:13] to give them good leaders committed to [00:00:15] the warfighting culture of the [00:00:17] department. Not perfect leaders, good [00:00:20] leaders, [00:00:22] competent, qualified, professional, [00:00:24] agile, aggressive, innovative, [00:00:27] risk-taking, apolitical, faithful to [00:00:30] their oath and to the Constitution. [00:00:34] Eugene Sledge in his World War II memoir [00:00:36] wrote, quote, "War is brutish, in [00:00:39] glorious, and a terrible waste. Combat [00:00:42] leaves an indelible mark on those who [00:00:44] are forced to endure it. The only [00:00:46] redeeming factors are my comrades [00:00:49] incredible bravery and their devotion to [00:00:52] each other. [00:00:53] In combat, there are thousands of [00:00:55] variables, as I learned in Iraq and [00:00:57] Afghanistan, and as so many of you did [00:00:59] in so many more places. Leaders can only [00:01:02] control about three of them. You control [00:01:05] how well you're trained, mostly, how [00:01:08] well you're equipped, and the last [00:01:10] variable is how well you lead. After [00:01:14] that, you're on your own. Our war [00:01:16] fighters are entitled to be led by the [00:01:18] best and most capable leaders. That is [00:01:21] who we need you all to be. Even then, in [00:01:25] combat, even if you do everything right, [00:01:27] you may still lose people because the [00:01:29] enemy always gets a vote. We have a [00:01:31] sacred duty to ensure that our warriors [00:01:32] are led by the most capable and [00:01:34] qualified combat leaders. This is one [00:01:36] thing you and I can control, [00:01:40] and we owe it to the force to deliver [00:01:42] it. [00:01:44] For too long, we have simply not done [00:01:47] that. The military has been forced by [00:01:50] foolish and reckless politicians to [00:01:52] focus on the wrong things. [00:01:55] In many ways, this speech is about [00:01:57] fixing decades of decay. [00:02:00] Some of it obvious, some of it hidden. [00:02:04] Or as the chairman has put it, we are [00:02:05] clearing out the debris, [00:02:08] removing the distractions, [00:02:11] clearing the way for leaders to be [00:02:13] leaders. [00:02:15] You might say we're ending the war on [00:02:19] warriors. [00:02:21] I heard someone wrote a book about that. [00:02:24] For too long, we've promoted too many [00:02:26] uniform leaders for the wrong reasons. [00:02:30] based on their race, based on gender [00:02:32] quotas, based on historic so-called [00:02:35] firsts. [00:02:37] We've pretended that combat arms and [00:02:38] non-combat arms are the same thing. [00:02:41] We've weeded out so-called toxic leaders [00:02:43] under the guise of double blind [00:02:45] psychology assessments, promoting [00:02:47] riskaverse goalong to get along [00:02:49] conformists instead. [00:02:52] You name it, the department did it. [00:02:55] Foolish and reckless political leaders [00:02:57] set the wrong compass heading and we [00:03:00] lost our way. [00:03:03] We became the woke department. [00:03:06] But not anymore. [00:03:08] Right now, I'm looking out at a sea of [00:03:11] Americans who made a choice [00:03:13] when they were young men and young women [00:03:17] to do something most Americans will not. [00:03:19] to serve something greater than [00:03:21] yourselves, to fight for God and [00:03:23] country, for freedom and the [00:03:24] Constitution. You made a choice to serve [00:03:27] when others did not. And I commend you. [00:03:31] You are truly the best of America. [00:03:36] But this does not mean, and this goes [00:03:37] for all of us, that our path to this [00:03:40] auditorium on this day was a straight [00:03:42] line or that the conditions of the [00:03:44] formations we lead are where we want [00:03:47] them to be. [00:03:49] You love your country and we love this [00:03:51] uniform, which is why we must do better. [00:03:56] We just have to be honest. We have to [00:03:59] say with our mouths what we see with our [00:04:01] eyes to just tell it like it is in plain [00:04:04] English. To point out the obvious things [00:04:08] right in front of us. That's what [00:04:11] leaders must do. [00:04:13] We cannot go another day without [00:04:15] directly addressing the plank in our own [00:04:18] eye. Without addressing the problems in [00:04:21] our own commands and in our own [00:04:23] formations. [00:04:27] This administration has done a great [00:04:29] deal from day one to remove the social [00:04:32] justice, politically correct, and toxic [00:04:34] ideological garbage that had infected [00:04:37] our department to rip out the politics. [00:04:42] No more identity months, DEI offices, [00:04:46] dudes in dresses, [00:04:49] no more climate change worship, no more [00:04:51] division, distraction, or gender [00:04:53] delusions, no more debris. [00:04:56] As I've said before and will say again, [00:05:00] we are done with that [00:05:03] I've made it my mission to uproot the [00:05:05] obvious distractions that made us less [00:05:07] capable and less lethal. [00:05:10] That said, the war department requires [00:05:14] the next step. [00:05:16] Underneath the woke garbage is a deeper [00:05:18] problem and a more important problem [00:05:20] that we are fixing and fixing fast. [00:05:23] Common sense is back at the White House. [00:05:26] So, making the necessary changes is [00:05:28] actually pretty straightforward. [00:05:31] President Trump expects it. and lipmus [00:05:35] test for these changes. [00:05:38] It's pretty simple. [00:05:40] Would I want my eldest son who is 15 [00:05:44] years old [00:05:46] eventually joining the types of [00:05:48] formations that we are currently [00:05:49] wielding? [00:05:51] If in any way the answer to that is no [00:05:53] or even yes, but then we're doing [00:05:56] something wrong because my son is no [00:05:59] more important than any other American [00:06:01] citizen who dons the cloth of our [00:06:02] nation. [00:06:04] He is no more important than your son. [00:06:07] All precious souls made in the image and [00:06:09] likeness of God. Every parent deserves [00:06:12] to know that their son or their daughter [00:06:14] that joins our ranks is entering exactly [00:06:17] the kind of unit that the secretary of [00:06:20] war would want his son to join. [00:06:24] Think of it as the golden rule test. [00:06:28] Jesus said, "Do unto others that's what [00:06:30] you would have done unto yourself." It's [00:06:33] the ultimate simplifying test of truth. [00:06:37] The new War Department golden rule is [00:06:40] this. Do unto your unit as you would [00:06:44] have done unto your own child's unit. [00:06:48] Would you want him serving with fat or [00:06:50] unfit or undertrained troops or [00:06:53] alongside people who can't meet basic [00:06:55] standards? Or in a unit where standards [00:06:58] were lowered so certain types of troops [00:06:59] could make it in? In a unit where [00:07:02] leaders were promoted for reasons other [00:07:04] than merit, performance, and war [00:07:06] fighting, [00:07:08] the answer is not just no, it's hell no. [00:07:12] This means at the War Department, first [00:07:14] and foremost, we must restore a [00:07:17] ruthless, [00:07:18] dispassionate, [00:07:20] and common sense. [00:07:23] I don't want my son serving alongside [00:07:26] troops who are out of shape or in combat [00:07:28] unit with females who can't meet the [00:07:30] same combat arms. [00:07:33] Troops who are not fully proficient on [00:07:34] their assigned weapons, platform, or [00:07:36] task, or under a leader who was the [00:07:40] first but not the best. [00:07:44] Standards must be uniform, [00:07:46] genderneutral, and high. [00:07:50] If not, they're not standards. [00:07:53] They're just suggestions. [00:07:56] Suggestions that get our sons and [00:07:58] daughters killed [00:08:01] when it comes to combat arms units. And [00:08:04] there are many different stripes across [00:08:05] our joint force. [00:08:07] The era of politically correct, [00:08:11] overly sensitive, don't hurt anyone's [00:08:14] feelings leadership ends right now [00:08:18] at every level. Either you can meet the [00:08:21] standard, either you can do the job, [00:08:23] either you are disciplined, fit, and [00:08:25] trained, or you are out. [00:08:29] And that's why today at my direction, [00:08:31] and this is the first of 10 Department [00:08:33] of Ward directives that are arriving at [00:08:36] your commands as we speak and in your [00:08:38] inbox [00:08:40] today, at my direction, each service [00:08:42] will ensure that every requirement for [00:08:44] every combat MOS for every designated [00:08:48] combat arms position returns to the [00:08:51] highest male standard only. [00:08:54] Because this job is life or death. [00:08:57] Standards must be met. And not just met [00:09:00] at every level. We should seek to exceed [00:09:02] the standard to push the envelope to [00:09:04] compete. It's common sense and core to [00:09:07] who we are and what we do. It should be [00:09:09] in our DNA. [00:09:12] Today at my direction, we are also [00:09:13] adding a combat field test for combat [00:09:16] arms units that must be executable in [00:09:19] any environment at any time and with [00:09:21] combat equipment. [00:09:23] These tests, they'll look familiar. [00:09:25] They'll resemble the Army Expert [00:09:27] Physical Fitness Assessment or the [00:09:29] Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test. [00:09:33] I'm also directing that war fighters in [00:09:35] combat jobs execute their service [00:09:37] fitness test at a genderneutral ageormed [00:09:40] male standard scored above 70%. [00:09:45] It all starts with physical fitness and [00:09:47] appearance. If the Secretary of War can [00:09:50] do regular hard PT, so can every member [00:09:53] of our joint force. [00:09:56] Frankly, it's tiring to look out at [00:09:58] combat formations or really any [00:10:00] formation and see fat troops. Likewise, [00:10:04] it's completely unacceptable to see fat [00:10:06] generals and admirals in the halls of [00:10:07] the Pentagon and leading commands around [00:10:10] the country and the world. It's a bad [00:10:11] look. It is bad and it's not who we are. [00:10:15] So whether you're an airborne ranger or [00:10:17] a chairborne ranger, a brand new private [00:10:20] or a four-star general, you need to meet [00:10:22] the height and weight standards and pass [00:10:23] your PT test. And as the chairman said, [00:10:26] yes, there is no PT test. [00:10:29] But today, at my direction, every member [00:10:31] of the joint force at every rank is [00:10:33] required to take a PT test twice a year, [00:10:37] as well as meet height and weight [00:10:38] requirements twice a year, every year of [00:10:43] service. [00:10:45] Also, today at my direction, every [00:10:47] warrior across our joint force is [00:10:49] required to do PT every duty day. Should [00:10:53] be common sense. I mean, most units do [00:10:54] that already, but we're codifying it. [00:10:57] And we're not talking like hot yoga and [00:10:59] stretching. [00:11:01] Real hard PT, there's either as a unit [00:11:04] or as an individual at every level from [00:11:07] the joint chiefs to everyone in this [00:11:09] room to the youngest private leaders set [00:11:11] the standard. And so many of you this do [00:11:13] this already. Active guard and reserve. [00:11:17] This also means grooming standards. No [00:11:20] more beards, long hair, superficial [00:11:24] individual expression. We're going to [00:11:25] cut our hair, shave our shave our [00:11:27] beards, and adhere to standards [00:11:29] because it's like the broken windows [00:11:31] theory of policing. It's like when you [00:11:33] let the small stuff go, the big stuff [00:11:34] eventually goes. So you have to address [00:11:37] the small stuff. This is on duty in the [00:11:40] field and in the rear. If you want a [00:11:41] beard, you can join special forces. [00:11:44] If not, then shave. We don't have a [00:11:47] military full of Nordic pagans. [00:11:51] But unfortunately, we have had leaders [00:11:52] who either refuse to call BS and enforce [00:11:54] standards or leaders who felt like they [00:11:57] were not allowed to enforce standards. [00:12:01] Both are unacceptable. [00:12:03] And that's why today at my direction, [00:12:05] the era of unprofessional appearance is [00:12:07] over. [00:12:08] No more beardos. [00:12:11] The era of rampant and ridiculous [00:12:13] shaving profiles is done. [00:12:15] Simply put, if you do not meet the male [00:12:17] level physical standards for combat [00:12:19] positions, cannot pass a PT test, or [00:12:22] don't want to shave and look [00:12:23] professional, [00:12:24] it's time for a new position or a new [00:12:27] profession. [00:12:30] I sincerely appreciate the proactive [00:12:32] efforts the secretaries have already [00:12:33] taken in some of those areas. Service [00:12:36] secretaries and these directives are [00:12:38] intended to simply accelerate those [00:12:40] efforts. [00:12:42] On the topic of standards, allow me a [00:12:45] few words to talk about toxic leaders. [00:12:49] Upholding and demanding high standards [00:12:52] is not toxic. [00:12:55] Enforcing high standards, not toxic [00:12:58] leadership. Leading war fighters toward [00:13:01] the goals of high, genderneutral, and [00:13:03] uncompromising standards in order to [00:13:05] forge a cohesive, formidable, and lethal [00:13:09] department of war is not toxic. [00:13:13] It is our duty, consistent with our [00:13:15] constitutional oath. [00:13:18] Real toxic leadership is endangering [00:13:20] subordinates with low standards. Real [00:13:22] toxic leadership is promoting people [00:13:24] based on immutable characteristics or [00:13:26] quotas instead of based on merit. Real [00:13:29] toxic leadership is promoting [00:13:31] destructive ideologies that are an [00:13:33] anathema to the constitution and the [00:13:35] laws of nature and nature's god. As [00:13:37] Thomas Jefferson wrote in the [00:13:39] Declaration of Independence, [00:13:42] the definition of toxic has been turned [00:13:44] upside down and we're correcting that. [00:13:48] That's why today at my direction, we're [00:13:50] undertaking a full review of the [00:13:52] department's definitions of so-called [00:13:54] toxic leadership, bullying, and hazing [00:13:58] to empower leaders to enforce standards [00:14:00] without fear of retribution or [00:14:02] second-guessing. [00:14:04] Of course, you can't do like nasty [00:14:06] bullying and hazing. We're talking about [00:14:07] words like bullying and hazing and [00:14:09] toxic. They've been weaponized and [00:14:10] bastardized inside our formations, [00:14:13] undercutting commanders and NCOs's. No [00:14:16] more. Setting, achieving, and [00:14:19] maintaining high standards is what you [00:14:21] all do. [00:14:23] And if that makes me toxic, then so be [00:14:25] it. [00:14:27] Second, today at our direction, we're [00:14:30] ensuring that every service, every unit, [00:14:32] every schoolhouse, and every form of [00:14:34] professional military education conduct [00:14:37] an immediate review of their standards. [00:14:39] Now, we've done this in many places [00:14:41] already, but today it goes across the [00:14:43] entire Department of War. Any place [00:14:47] where tried and trueue physical [00:14:49] standards were altered, [00:14:51] especially since 2015 when combat arms [00:14:54] standards were changed to ensure females [00:14:56] could qualify, must be returned to their [00:14:59] original standard. [00:15:01] Other standards have been manipulated to [00:15:04] hit racial quotas as well, which is just [00:15:06] as unacceptable. This too must end. [00:15:08] Merit [00:15:09] only the president talks about it all [00:15:11] the time merit-based [00:15:13] here are two basic frameworks I urge you [00:15:15] to pursue in this process standards I [00:15:18] call my staff heard all about them the [00:15:21] 1990 test and the E6 test [00:15:26] the 1990s test is simple [00:15:30] what were the military standards in 1990 [00:15:33] and if they they have changed tell me [00:15:36] why [00:15:38] was Was it a necessary change based on [00:15:40] the evolving landscape of combat? [00:15:43] Or was the change due to a softening, [00:15:45] weakening or genderbased pursuit of [00:15:47] other priorities? [00:15:49] 1990s seems to be as good a place to [00:15:52] start as any. [00:15:54] and the E6 test. Ask yourself, does what [00:15:57] you're doing make the leadership, [00:16:00] accountability, and lethality efforts of [00:16:02] an E6 or or frankly an 03, does it make [00:16:06] it easier or more complicated? [00:16:09] Does the change empower staff sergeants, [00:16:11] petty officers, and tech sergeants to [00:16:13] get back to basics? The answer should be [00:16:16] a resounding yes. The E6 test or 03 test [00:16:21] clarifies a lot and it clarifies quickly [00:16:25] because war does not care if you're a [00:16:27] man or a woman. Neither does the enemy. [00:16:31] Nor does the weight of your rucks sack, [00:16:33] the size of an artillery round, or the [00:16:35] body weight of a casualty on the [00:16:36] battlefield who must be carried. [00:16:40] This, and I want to be very clear about [00:16:41] this, this is not about preventing women [00:16:44] from serving. We are we very much value [00:16:47] the impact of female troops. Our female [00:16:50] officers and NCOs are the absolute best [00:16:54] in the world. [00:16:57] But when it comes to any job that [00:16:58] requires physical power to perform in [00:17:01] combat, those physical standards must be [00:17:03] high and genderneutral. [00:17:05] If women can make it, excellent. If not, [00:17:09] it is what it is. If that means no women [00:17:12] qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. [00:17:16] That is not the intent, but it could be [00:17:18] the result. So be it. [00:17:21] It will also mean that weak mean that [00:17:23] weak men won't qualify because we're not [00:17:25] playing games. This is combat. This is [00:17:28] life or death. As we all know, this is [00:17:31] you versus an enemy hellbent on killing [00:17:33] you. To be an effective lethal fighting [00:17:36] force, you must trust that the warrior [00:17:39] alongside you in battle is capable. [00:17:43] truly physically capable of doing what [00:17:45] is necessary under fire. You know, this [00:17:48] is the only standard you would want for [00:17:51] your kids and for your grandkids. [00:17:54] Apply the War Department golden rule, [00:17:56] the 1990 test, and the E6 test, and it's [00:18:00] really hard to go wrong. [00:18:02] Third, [00:18:05] we are attacking and ending the walking [00:18:07] on eggshells and zero defect command [00:18:10] culture. [00:18:12] A risk averse culture means officers [00:18:14] execute not to lose instead of to win. A [00:18:19] risk averse culture means NCOs are not [00:18:21] empowered to enforce standards. [00:18:23] Commanders and NCOs's don't take [00:18:25] necessary risks or make tough [00:18:27] adjustments for fear of rocking the boat [00:18:30] or making mistakes. [00:18:32] A blemish free record is what peacetime [00:18:36] leaders covet the most, which is the [00:18:39] worst of all incentives. [00:18:42] You, we as senior leaders need to end [00:18:46] the poisonous culture of risk aversion [00:18:48] and empower our NCOs at all levels to [00:18:51] enforce standards. [00:18:54] Truth be told, for the most part, we [00:18:56] don't need new standards. We just need [00:18:58] to reestablish a culture where enforcing [00:19:00] standards is possible. [00:19:03] And that's why today at my direction, [00:19:05] I'm issuing new policies that will [00:19:07] overhaul the IG, EO, and MEO processes. [00:19:12] I call it the no more walking on [00:19:14] eggshells policy. [00:19:16] We are liberating commanders and NCOs. [00:19:20] We are liberating you. [00:19:23] We are overhauling an inspector general [00:19:25] process, the IG, that has been [00:19:27] weaponized, [00:19:28] putting complainers, ideologues, and [00:19:31] poor performers in the driver's seat. [00:19:34] We're doing the same with the equal [00:19:36] opportunity and military equal [00:19:37] opportunity policies, the EO and MEO at [00:19:41] our department. [00:19:43] No more frivolous complaints. No more [00:19:46] anonymous complaints. No more repeat [00:19:48] complaintants. No more smearing [00:19:50] reputations. No more endless waiting. No [00:19:52] more legal limbo. No more sidetracking [00:19:55] careers. No more walking on eggshells. [00:20:00] Of course, being a racist has been [00:20:03] illegal in our formation since 1948. [00:20:07] The same goes for sexual harassment. [00:20:10] Both are wrong and illegal. Those kinds [00:20:13] of infractions will be ruthlessly [00:20:16] enforced. [00:20:18] But telling someone to shave or get a [00:20:19] haircut or to get in shape or to fix [00:20:21] their uniform or to show up on time or [00:20:22] to work hard, that's exactly the kind of [00:20:24] discrimination we want. [00:20:27] We are not civilians. You are not [00:20:30] civilians. You are set apart for a [00:20:32] distinct purpose. So, we as a department [00:20:36] need to stop acting and thinking like [00:20:37] civilians and get back to basics and put [00:20:40] the power back in the hands of [00:20:41] commanders and NCOs's. Commanders and [00:20:43] NCOs who make life and death decisions. [00:20:48] Commanders and NCOs who enforce [00:20:49] standards and ensure readiness. [00:20:51] Commanders and NCOs who in this war [00:20:55] department have to look in the mirror [00:20:58] and they have to pass the golden rule [00:21:00] test. [00:21:02] my kids, your kids, America's sons and [00:21:06] daughters. [00:21:08] So, I urge you all here today and those [00:21:10] watching, take this guidance and run [00:21:12] with it. [00:21:14] The core of this speech is the 10 [00:21:15] directives we're announcing today. They [00:21:17] were written for you. For Army [00:21:21] leadership, for Navy leadership, for [00:21:23] Marine Corps leadership, for Air Force [00:21:25] leadership, Space Force leadership. [00:21:27] These directives are designed to take [00:21:29] the monkey off your back. [00:21:31] and put you, the leadership, back in the [00:21:34] driver's seat. [00:21:36] Move out with urgency because we have [00:21:38] your back. I have your back and the [00:21:41] commander-in-chief has your back. [00:21:45] And when we give you this guidance, we [00:21:47] know mistakes will be made. It's the [00:21:50] nature of leadership. But you should not [00:21:52] pay for earnest mistakes for your entire [00:21:54] career. And that's why today at my [00:21:57] direction, we're making changes to the [00:21:59] retention of adverse information on [00:22:01] personnel records that will allow [00:22:03] leaders with forgivable, earnest, or [00:22:05] minor infractions to not be encumbered [00:22:07] by those infractions in perpetuity. [00:22:10] People make honest mistakes, and our [00:22:13] mistakes should not define an entire [00:22:15] career. Otherwise, we only try not to [00:22:18] make mistakes, and that's not the [00:22:19] business we're in. We need risktakers [00:22:22] and aggressive leaders and a culture [00:22:25] that supports you. [00:22:28] Fourth, at the War Department, [00:22:30] promotions across the joint force will [00:22:32] be based on one thing, merit. [00:22:35] Color-blind, genderneutral, merit-based. [00:22:38] The entire promotion process, including [00:22:40] evaluations of war fighting [00:22:41] capabilities, is being thoroughly [00:22:43] re-examined. We've already done a lot in [00:22:46] this area, but more changes are coming [00:22:48] soon. [00:22:49] will promote top performing officers and [00:22:51] NCOs's faster and get rid of poor [00:22:54] performers more quickly. Evaluations, [00:22:58] education, and field exercises [00:23:01] will become real evaluations, not box [00:23:03] checks for every one of us at every [00:23:06] level. [00:23:08] These same reforms happened before World [00:23:10] War II as well. General George Marshall [00:23:13] and Secretary of War Henry Stimson did [00:23:16] the same thing. [00:23:18] And we won a world war because of it. As [00:23:21] it happens, when he started the job, [00:23:23] Chairman Kaine gave me a frame and a [00:23:26] photo to hang in my office. A matching [00:23:29] frame and photo hangs in his. [00:23:33] It's a photo of Marshall and Stimson [00:23:35] preparing for World War II. [00:23:38] Those two leaders famously kept the door [00:23:40] open between their offices for the [00:23:43] entirety of the war. They worked [00:23:45] together, civilian and uniform, every [00:23:48] single day. [00:23:50] Chairman Kaine and I do the same. There [00:23:52] is no daylight between us. Our doors are [00:23:55] always open. Our job together is to [00:23:58] ensure our military is led by the very [00:24:00] best, ready to answer the nation's call. [00:24:06] Fifth, as you have seen and the media [00:24:11] has obsessed over, I have fired a number [00:24:14] of senior officers since taking over. [00:24:17] The previous chairman, other members of [00:24:19] the joint chiefs, combatant commanders, [00:24:21] and other commanders. The rationale for [00:24:23] me has been straightforward. [00:24:25] It's nearly impossible to change a [00:24:27] culture with the same people who helped [00:24:28] create or even benefited from that [00:24:30] culture. Even if that culture was [00:24:33] created by a previous president and [00:24:34] previous secretary, [00:24:37] my approach has been simple. When in [00:24:39] doubt, assess the situation, follow your [00:24:43] gut, and if it's the best for the [00:24:45] military, make a change. We all serve at [00:24:50] the pleasure of the president every [00:24:52] single day. [00:24:55] But in many ways, it's not their fault. [00:24:59] It's not your fault. As foolish and [00:25:02] reckless as the woke department was, [00:25:05] those officers were following elected [00:25:07] political leadership. [00:25:09] An entire generation of generals and [00:25:12] admirals were were told that they must [00:25:14] parrot the insane fallacy that quote, [00:25:16] "Our diversity is our strength." [00:25:20] Of course, we know our unity is our [00:25:22] strength. They had to put out dizzying [00:25:24] DEI and LGBTQI+ [00:25:28] statements. [00:25:29] They were told females and males are the [00:25:31] same thing or that males who think [00:25:34] they're females is totally normal. [00:25:38] They were told that we need a green [00:25:40] fleet and electric tanks. They were told [00:25:43] to kick out Americans who refuse an [00:25:45] emergency vaccine. They followed [00:25:47] civilian policies set by foolish and [00:25:50] reckless political leaders. Our [00:25:54] job, my job has been to determine which [00:25:58] leaders simply did what they must to [00:26:01] answer the prerogatives of civilian [00:26:02] leadership and which leaders are truly [00:26:05] invested in the woke department and [00:26:06] therefore incapable of embracing the war [00:26:09] department and executing new lawful [00:26:12] orders. That's it. It's that simple. So [00:26:16] for the past eight months, we've gotten [00:26:18] a good look under the hood of our [00:26:19] officer corps. We've done our best to [00:26:22] thoroughly assess the human terrain. [00:26:25] We've had to make trade-offs and some [00:26:27] difficult decisions. [00:26:29] It's more of an art than a science. We [00:26:32] have been and will continue to be [00:26:34] judicious, [00:26:36] but also expeditious. [00:26:39] The new compass heading is clear. [00:26:43] Out with the Charllis, the McKenzies, [00:26:44] and the Millies, and in with the [00:26:47] Stockdale, the Schwarzoffs, and the [00:26:49] Pattons. [00:26:51] more leadership changes will be made of [00:26:53] that uncertain. Not because we want to, [00:26:56] but because we must. Once again, this is [00:26:58] life and death. The sooner we have the [00:27:01] right people, the sooner we can advance [00:27:02] the right policies. Personnel is policy. [00:27:07] But I look out at this group and I see [00:27:10] great Americans, [00:27:11] leaders who have given decades to our [00:27:14] great republic at great sacrifice to [00:27:18] yourselves [00:27:19] and to your families. [00:27:21] But if the words I'm speaking today are [00:27:24] making your heart sink, [00:27:27] then you should do the honorable thing [00:27:29] and resign. [00:27:31] We would thank you for your service. [00:27:35] But I suspect, I know the overwhelming [00:27:40] majority of you feel the opposite. These [00:27:42] words make your hearts full. [00:27:45] You love the War Department because you [00:27:47] love what you do, the profession of [00:27:49] arms. You are hereby liberated to be an [00:27:53] a-political hardcharging nononsense [00:27:57] constitutional leader that you joined [00:28:00] the military to be. [00:28:04] We need you locked in on the M, [00:28:08] not the D, the E or the I, not the DEI [00:28:11] or the DIE of dime. By that I mean the [00:28:14] M, military of the instruments of [00:28:17] national power. [00:28:20] We have entire departments across the [00:28:21] government dedicated to [00:28:22] diplomatic,formational, and economic [00:28:24] lines of effort. We do the M. Nobody [00:28:27] else does. And our GOOS need to master [00:28:30] it in every domain and every scenario. [00:28:32] No more distractions. No more political [00:28:34] ideologies. No more debris. [00:28:37] Now, of course, we're going to disagree [00:28:39] at times. [00:28:41] We would not be Americans if we didn't. [00:28:44] Being a leader in a large organization [00:28:45] like ours means means having frank [00:28:47] conversations [00:28:49] and differences of opinion. [00:28:51] You will win some arguments and you will [00:28:54] lose some arguments. But when civilian [00:28:56] leaders issued lawful orders, we [00:28:58] execute. [00:29:00] We are professionals in the profession [00:29:02] of arms. [00:29:04] Our entire constitutional system is [00:29:07] predicated upon this understanding. [00:29:12] Now, seems like a small thing, but it's [00:29:14] not. This includes as well the behavior [00:29:16] of our troops online. [00:29:18] To that end, I want to thank and [00:29:21] recognize the services for their new [00:29:22] proactive social media policies. [00:29:25] Use them. Anonymous online or keyboard [00:29:29] complaining is not worthy of a warrior. [00:29:32] It's cowardice masquerading as [00:29:35] conscience. Anonymous unit level social [00:29:38] media pages that trash commanders, [00:29:40] demoralize troops, and undermine unit [00:29:42] cohesion must not be tolerated. [00:29:46] Again, 03s, E6s. [00:29:50] Sixth, we must train and we must [00:29:53] maintain. [00:29:55] Any moment that we are not training on [00:29:57] our mission or maintaining our equipment [00:30:00] is a moment we are less prepared for [00:30:02] preventing or winning the next war. [00:30:06] That is why today at my direction, we [00:30:08] are drastically reducing the ridiculous [00:30:10] amount of mandatory training that [00:30:12] individuals and units must execute. [00:30:16] We've already ended the most egregious. [00:30:18] Now we're giving you back real time. [00:30:20] Less PowerPoint briefings and fewer [00:30:22] online courses, more time in the motor [00:30:24] pool, and more time on the range. [00:30:27] Our job is to make sure you have the [00:30:29] money, equipment, weapons, and parts to [00:30:30] train and maintain. And then you take it [00:30:32] from there. [00:30:34] You all know this because it's common [00:30:36] sense. The tougher and the higher the [00:30:40] standards in our units, the higher the [00:30:42] retention rates in those units. Warriors [00:30:46] want to be challenged. Troops want to be [00:30:47] tested. When you don't train and you [00:30:49] don't maintain, you demoralize. [00:30:52] And that's when our best people decide [00:30:54] to take their talents to the civilian [00:30:56] world. [00:30:58] The leaders who created the woke [00:30:59] department have already driven out too [00:31:01] many hard chargers. We reverse that [00:31:03] trend. Right now, [00:31:06] there is no world in which [00:31:07] high-intensity war exists without pain, [00:31:10] agony, and human tragedy. [00:31:13] We are in a dangerous line of work. You [00:31:16] are in a dangerous line of work. [00:31:20] We may lose good people, [00:31:23] but let no warrior cry out from the [00:31:25] grave, "If only I had been properly [00:31:27] trained." [00:31:30] We will not use lose war fighters [00:31:32] because we failed to train or equip them [00:31:34] or resource them. Shame on us if we do. [00:31:37] Train like your warriors lives depend on [00:31:39] it because they do. [00:31:42] To that point, basic training is being [00:31:45] restored to what it should be, scary, [00:31:48] tough, and disciplined. We're empowering [00:31:51] drill sergeants to instill healthy fear [00:31:53] in new recruits, [00:31:55] ensuring that future war fighters are [00:31:57] forged. [00:31:59] Yes, they can shark attack. They can [00:32:01] toss bunks. They can swear. And yes, [00:32:04] they can put their hands on recruits. [00:32:06] This does not mean they can be reckless [00:32:08] or violate the law, but they can use [00:32:11] tried andrue methods to motivate new [00:32:14] recruits to make them the warriors they [00:32:18] need to be. [00:32:19] back to basics at basic as well. [00:32:24] Of course, and you know this, basic [00:32:25] training is not where mission readiness [00:32:26] should end. The nature of the evolving [00:32:28] threat environment demands that everyone [00:32:32] in every job must be ready to join the [00:32:34] fight if needed. A core credo of the [00:32:37] Marine Corps is every Marine a rifleman. [00:32:41] It means that everyone, regardless of [00:32:44] MOS, is proficient enough to engage an [00:32:46] enemy threat at sea, in the air, or in a [00:32:48] so-called rear area. [00:32:52] We need to ensure that every member of [00:32:53] our uniform military maintains baseline [00:32:56] proficiency in basic combat skills, [00:32:59] especially because the next war, like [00:33:01] the last, will likely not have a rear [00:33:04] area. [00:33:07] Finally, [00:33:09] as President Trump rightly pointed out [00:33:11] when he changed the department name, the [00:33:14] United States has not won a major [00:33:16] theater war since the name was changed [00:33:18] to the Department of Defense in 1947. [00:33:23] One conflict stands out in stark [00:33:25] contrast, [00:33:27] the Gulf War. [00:33:29] Why? Well, there's a number of reasons, [00:33:31] but it was a limited mission with [00:33:33] overwhelming force and a clear end [00:33:34] state. But why did we execute and win [00:33:37] the Gulf War the way we did in 1991? [00:33:40] There's two overwhelming reasons. [00:33:43] One was President Ronald Reagan's [00:33:44] military buildup gave an overwhelming [00:33:46] advantage. And two, military and [00:33:49] Pentagon leadership had previous [00:33:52] formative battlefield experiences. [00:33:56] The men who led this department during [00:33:58] the Gulf War were mostly combat veterans [00:34:01] of the Vietnam War. [00:34:04] They said never again to mission creep [00:34:06] or nebulous endstates. [00:34:09] The same holds true today. Our civilian [00:34:12] and military leadership is chocked full [00:34:14] of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan [00:34:17] who say never again to nation building [00:34:19] and nebulous endstates. [00:34:22] This cleareyed view all the way in the [00:34:24] White House combined with President [00:34:26] Trump's military buildup postures us for [00:34:29] future victories if and we will and when [00:34:34] we embrace the War Department [00:34:36] and we must. [00:34:39] We are preparing every day. We have to [00:34:42] be prepared for war, not for defense. [00:34:44] We're training warriors, not defenders. [00:34:46] We fight wars to win, not to defend. [00:34:49] Defense is something you do all the [00:34:50] time. It's inherently reactionary and [00:34:52] can lead to overuse, overreach, and [00:34:54] mission creep. War is something you do [00:34:57] sparingly, on our own terms, and with [00:35:00] clear aims. We fight to win. We unleash [00:35:05] overwhelming and punishing violence on [00:35:08] the enemy. [00:35:10] We also don't fight with stupid rules of [00:35:12] engagement. We untie the hands of our [00:35:15] war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, [00:35:17] hunt, and kill the enemies of our [00:35:20] country. [00:35:21] No more politically correct and [00:35:23] overbearing rules of engagement. Just [00:35:25] common sense, maximum lethality, and [00:35:28] authority for war fighters. [00:35:31] That's all I ever wanted as a platoon [00:35:34] leader. And it's all my E6 squad leaders [00:35:37] ever wanted. Back to that E6 rule. We [00:35:40] let our leaders fight their formations. [00:35:43] and then we have their back. It's very [00:35:45] simple yet incredibly powerful. [00:35:50] A few months ago, I was at the White [00:35:51] House when President Trump announced his [00:35:53] liberation day for America's trade [00:35:55] policy. It was a landmark day. [00:35:59] Well, today is another liberation day, [00:36:01] the liberation of America's warriors in [00:36:03] name, in deed, and in authorities. [00:36:08] You kill people and break things for a [00:36:10] living. [00:36:11] You are not politically correct and [00:36:14] don't necessarily belong always in [00:36:17] polite society. [00:36:19] We are not an army of one. We are a [00:36:22] joint force of millions of selfless [00:36:24] Americans. [00:36:26] We are warriors. We are purpose-built [00:36:30] not for fair weather, blue skies, or [00:36:32] calm seas. We were built to load up in [00:36:35] the back of helicopters, five tons or [00:36:38] zodiacs in the dead of night. [00:36:41] in fair weather or fowl, to go to [00:36:44] dangerous places to find to find those [00:36:47] who would do our nation harm and deliver [00:36:50] justice on behalf of the American people [00:36:53] in close and brutal combat if necessary. [00:36:58] You are different. [00:37:02] We fight not because we hate what's in [00:37:04] front of us. We fight because we love [00:37:06] what's behind us. [00:37:08] You see, the Ivy League faculty lounges [00:37:10] will never understand us. And that's [00:37:12] okay [00:37:13] because they could never do what you do. [00:37:17] The media will mischaracterize us. And [00:37:19] that's okay because deep down they know [00:37:22] the reason they can do what they do is [00:37:23] you. [00:37:26] In this profession, you feel comfortable [00:37:27] inside the violence so that our citizens [00:37:29] can live peacefully. [00:37:32] Lethality is our calling card and [00:37:35] victory our only acceptable end state. [00:37:40] In closing, [00:37:42] a few weeks ago at our monthly Pentagon [00:37:45] Christian prayer service, I recited a [00:37:48] commander's prayer. [00:37:50] It's a simple yet meaningful prayer for [00:37:52] wisdom for commanders and leaders. I [00:37:55] encourage you to look it up if you've [00:37:56] never seen it. But the prayer, it ends [00:37:59] like this. [00:38:01] And most of all, Lord, please keep my [00:38:05] soldiers safe. Lead them, guide them, [00:38:09] protect them, watch over them, and as [00:38:12] you gave all of yourself for me, help me [00:38:17] give all of myself for them. [00:38:20] And amen. [00:38:22] I have prayed this prayer many times [00:38:23] since I've had the privilege of being [00:38:25] your secretary, and I will continue to [00:38:28] pray this prayer for each of you as you [00:38:30] command and lead our nation's finest. [00:38:35] Go forth and do good things, hard [00:38:39] things. [00:38:41] President Trump has your back and so do [00:38:44] I. [00:38:46] And you'll hear from him shortly. [00:38:49] Move out and draw fire because we [00:38:55] are the War Department. Godspeed. [00:39:18] Well, you've heard from me. So, now it's [00:39:20] the main event, our commander-in-chief. [00:39:23] I have the privilege every single day of [00:39:26] watching him put America first, of [00:39:30] ensuring that our war fighters have [00:39:31] everything they need. Uh his compass is [00:39:34] clear. He's easy to follow because you [00:39:38] know he has our back. I was thinking [00:39:40] backstage. The man who was the [00:39:43] commander-in-chief when the War [00:39:46] Department was created was George [00:39:48] Washington. The man who was president [00:39:51] when the War Department was [00:39:52] reestablished is President Trump. And [00:39:55] when he found out about this gathering [00:39:57] of senior leaders, he said, uh, I would [00:40:00] be honored to come in order to address [00:40:03] and thank the incredible Americans who [00:40:06] defend our nation. He has a heart full [00:40:08] of gratitude and love for what you do, [00:40:11] and we get a chance to see it every day, [00:40:12] and I'm honored that this morning you [00:40:15] all firsthand get to see it as well. [00:40:18] So ladies and gentlemen, join me in [00:40:21] welcoming the 45th and 47th president of [00:40:25] the United States, our [00:40:26] commanderin-chief, Donald J. Trump. [00:40:31] [Music] [00:41:06] Thank you very much, Pete. Great job [00:41:08] you're doing, too. Fantastic job. I've [00:41:11] never walked into a room so silent [00:41:13] before. This is very Don't laugh. Don't [00:41:16] laugh if you're not allowed to do that. [00:41:18] You know what? Just have a good time. [00:41:20] And if you want to applaud, you applaud. [00:41:22] And if you want to do anything you want, [00:41:24] you can do anything you want. And if you [00:41:26] don't like what I'm saying, you can [00:41:27] leave the room. Of course, there goes [00:41:28] your rank, there goes your future. [00:41:32] But you just feel nice and loose, okay? [00:41:35] Because we're all on the same team. And [00:41:38] uh I was told that, "Sir, you won't hear [00:41:41] you won't hear a murmur in the room." I [00:41:44] said we had to loosen these guys up a [00:41:45] little bit. So, you just have a good [00:41:48] time. But I want to thank Secretary Hexa [00:41:51] and General Kaine, General Raisin Kane [00:41:53] for a reason they call him that. When I [00:41:55] heard his name, I said, "You're the guy [00:41:57] I'm looking for. [00:41:59] The Joint Chiefs of Staff and so many [00:42:01] others in this room who together [00:42:03] represent the greatest and most elite [00:42:05] fighting force in the history of the [00:42:07] world, the United States military. We're [00:42:09] very proud of our military. I rebuilt [00:42:11] the military during my first term. It's [00:42:13] one of the greatest achievements. We had [00:42:15] the greatest economy in history and I [00:42:17] built the military. Those are the two [00:42:19] things I say more than anything else. [00:42:20] And I also kept us safe at the borders. [00:42:23] We had very good uh borders. We didn't [00:42:26] have people coming in from jails and [00:42:28] prisons and everything like took place [00:42:31] over the last four years. They'll never [00:42:32] forget what happened to this country [00:42:34] over the last four years with the [00:42:36] incompetence. [00:42:38] There could be no higher honor than to [00:42:40] serve as your commander-in-chief. It is [00:42:41] a great honor. I look at you just [00:42:45] incredible people. [00:42:47] Central casting, I might add. To each [00:42:50] and every one of you, I thank you for [00:42:52] your unwavering devotion to the armed [00:42:54] forces and to the country that we've all [00:42:57] sworn a sacred oath to defend. We all [00:42:59] have that oath, every one of us. I'm [00:43:02] thrilled to be here this morning to [00:43:04] address the senior leadership of what is [00:43:07] once again known around the world as the [00:43:10] Department of War. I know Pete spoke [00:43:12] about it. He gave a great speech. I [00:43:14] thought great speech. I don't want him [00:43:17] to get so good. I hate that, you know. [00:43:20] No, I hate it. I almost fired him. I [00:43:23] said, "You can't I don't want to go on [00:43:24] after that." Now, he gave he gave a [00:43:27] great speech, but he talked about [00:43:29] Department of War. We were sitting [00:43:30] there. I said, "Didn't that used to be [00:43:31] called the Department of War?" And he [00:43:34] goes, "Yes, sir. They changed it like in [00:43:36] the early 50s." So, we won the First [00:43:39] World War. We won the Second World War. [00:43:42] We won everything in between and [00:43:43] everything before that. We only won. And [00:43:46] then we went in a way woke. That was [00:43:48] probably the first sign of wokeness. [00:43:50] And we changed it to defense instead of [00:43:52] war. And I said, "What do you think? How [00:43:55] do you think if we change it back? Would [00:43:57] that be a nice idea?" And Pete loved it. [00:44:00] immediately. Some people think thought [00:44:01] about it, you know, they gave it a [00:44:03] little thought, but in the end, we did [00:44:05] it. And and I have to be honest, it's so [00:44:08] popular. It's I thought would be met [00:44:10] with fury on the left, but they're sort [00:44:14] of giving up. I must be honest with you. [00:44:16] They've had it. They've had it with [00:44:18] Trump. They've been after me for so many [00:44:21] years now. Here we are. Here we are. [00:44:24] Come to the White House anytime you'd [00:44:25] like. No, they've given up. Bad. a lot [00:44:28] of bad people. But all over that's been [00:44:31] so popular. It's been a very popular. I [00:44:33] really thought that we were going to [00:44:34] have to sort of fight it through. [00:44:35] There's been no fight. There's been no [00:44:38] fight. Like what I called the Gulf of [00:44:41] America, the Gulf of America, because to [00:44:43] me it was always the Gulf of America. I [00:44:44] could never understand. We have 92% of [00:44:47] the frontage. [00:44:50] And for years, actually 350 years, they [00:44:53] were there before us. It was called the [00:44:56] Gulf of Mexico. I just had this idea. [00:44:57] I'm looking at a map. I'm saying we have [00:45:00] most of the frontage. Why is it Gulf of [00:45:02] Mexico? Why isn't it the Gulf of [00:45:04] America? [00:45:06] And uh I made the change and it went [00:45:10] smoothly. I mean, we had a couple of [00:45:11] fake news outlets that refused to make [00:45:13] the change and then one of them AP took [00:45:16] us to court and we won. And the judge, [00:45:19] who was a somewhat liberal judge, said, [00:45:22] "Uh, the name is the Gulf of America." [00:45:25] because AP refused to call it the Gulf [00:45:27] of America. They wrote they're not a [00:45:30] good outfit, by the way. They call it [00:45:32] the Gulf of Mexico. I said, "No, the [00:45:34] Gulf of America is the name." And the [00:45:36] judge actually said that uh in fact, you [00:45:38] can't even go into the room because what [00:45:40] you're doing is not appropriate. The [00:45:42] name is the Gulf of America. Google Maps [00:45:45] changed the name. Everybody did, but AP [00:45:47] wouldn't. And then we won in court. How [00:45:49] about that? Isn't that so cool? As [00:45:51] Secretary Hex beautifully described, the [00:45:55] name change reflects far more than the [00:46:00] shift in branding. It's really a [00:46:01] historic [00:46:03] reassertion of our purpose and our [00:46:05] identity and our pride. That's when we [00:46:07] go with the word war. And you know, we [00:46:10] want war because we want to have no [00:46:13] wars. But you have to be there. And you [00:46:16] know, sometimes you have to do it. I've [00:46:19] settled so many wars since we're here. [00:46:20] We're here almost 9 months and I've [00:46:23] settled seven and yesterday we might [00:46:25] have settled the biggest of them all. [00:46:27] Although I don't know Pakistan, India [00:46:29] was very big. Both nuclear powers I [00:46:32] settled that but yesterday is could be [00:46:35] the settlement in the Middle East. [00:46:36] That's hasn't happened for 3,000 years. [00:46:38] I said, "How long have you been [00:46:40] fighting?" 3,000 years, sir. That's a [00:46:42] long time. But we got it, I think, [00:46:44] settled. We'll see. Hamas has to agree. [00:46:48] And if they don't, it's going to be very [00:46:49] tough on them. But it is what it is. But [00:46:52] all of the Arab nations, Muslim nations [00:46:55] have agreed. [00:46:57] Israel has agreed. It's a amazing thing. [00:47:00] It just came together. War is very [00:47:02] strange. You know, you never know what's [00:47:04] going to happen with war. The easiest [00:47:06] one of them all is Putin. I said, number [00:47:10] one, it's a war that would have never [00:47:11] happened if I were president. If the [00:47:12] election weren't rigged, if I were [00:47:15] president, that war would have never [00:47:16] happened. Not Not even a little chance. [00:47:18] And it didn't happen for four years. But [00:47:20] I knew Putin very well and I thought [00:47:21] that would be easy because I know him so [00:47:23] well. Well, that wouldn't turn out to be [00:47:26] the hardest of them all. We had uh some [00:47:28] that were not settable and they all got [00:47:30] settled. So, if this works out that we [00:47:34] did yesterday with the Middle East, then [00:47:36] uh that's that's more than a war. That's [00:47:38] lots of wars. That's all combined. [00:47:40] That's a lot of wars. Many of you were [00:47:42] over there in many different capacities [00:47:44] in many different countries. That was a [00:47:46] that's a big that's a big part of the [00:47:49] earth. But if that works out, it would [00:47:51] be eight plus. I could give myself two [00:47:54] or three for that one. And then we just [00:47:56] have the one to settle. We have to [00:47:58] settle it up with President Putin and [00:48:01] Zalinsky. Got to get them together and [00:48:03] get it done. But the only way we can do [00:48:06] that is through strength. I mean, if we [00:48:07] were weak, they wouldn't even take my [00:48:09] phone call. But we have extreme [00:48:11] strength. [00:48:13] Uh we had the horror show in Afghanistan [00:48:17] which is really the reason I think that [00:48:19] Putin went in. He saw that horror show [00:48:21] by Biden and his team of incompetent [00:48:24] people and that showed I think it gave [00:48:26] him a path in. I wasn't there any long [00:48:28] longer. Uh I watched that. It was so so [00:48:32] horrible. I think it was the most [00:48:33] embarrassing day in the history of our [00:48:36] country. [00:48:38] And now we're back and that's it. We're [00:48:40] not going to have any of that crap [00:48:42] happen. I can tell you that was [00:48:44] terrible. So terrible. Together, we're [00:48:46] reawakening the warrior spirit. And this [00:48:50] is a spirit that won and built this [00:48:52] nation. And from the cavalry that tamed [00:48:56] the great plains to the ferocious [00:48:58] unyielding power of Patton Bradley and [00:49:01] the great general Douglas Macarthur. [00:49:04] These are all great men [00:49:06] in this effort. We're a team. And so my [00:49:09] message to you is very simple. I am with [00:49:12] you. I support you. And as president, I [00:49:15] have your backs 100%. You'll never see [00:49:17] me even waver a little bit. It's the way [00:49:19] it is. And that includes our great [00:49:21] police officers and firemen and all of [00:49:24] these people that are doing so well. [00:49:28] Together over the next few years, we're [00:49:30] going to make our military stronger, [00:49:32] tougher, faster, fiercer, and more [00:49:34] powerful than it has ever been before. [00:49:37] I rebuilt our nuclear as you probably [00:49:40] know, but we'll upgrade that also and [00:49:42] just hope we never have to use it. We [00:49:44] have to hope we never have to use it [00:49:46] because the the power of that is so [00:49:51] incredible. I' I see things. I don't [00:49:53] think they'd show it to you. I I really [00:49:55] wouldn't want them to show it to you, [00:49:58] but when you see the result of what's [00:50:01] left, [00:50:02] you never want to use that. Never. [00:50:04] Never. Ever. [00:50:06] We were a little bit threatened by [00:50:09] Russia [00:50:12] recently [00:50:13] and I sent a [00:50:16] submarine, nuclear submarine, [00:50:18] the most lethal weapon ever made. Number [00:50:22] one, you can't detect it. There's no [00:50:24] way. We're 25 years ahead of Russia and [00:50:28] China in submarines. Russia's actually [00:50:30] second in submarines. China's third, but [00:50:33] they're, you know, they're coming up. [00:50:35] They're coming up. They're way to lower [00:50:36] in nuclear. They're coming up. They're [00:50:38] way to lower in nuclear, too, but in [00:50:40] five years they'll be equal. They're [00:50:42] coming up. And you don't have to be that [00:50:45] good with that works. So, I mentioned [00:50:47] the word nuclear. I moved [00:50:50] a submarine or two. I won't say about [00:50:52] the two [00:50:54] over to the coast of Russia just to be [00:50:59] careful because we can't let people [00:51:02] throw around that word. [00:51:06] I call it the nword. There are two [00:51:09] nwords and you can't use either of them. [00:51:13] You can't use either of them. And [00:51:17] frankly, [00:51:19] uh, if it does get to use, we have more [00:51:21] than anybody else. We have better, we [00:51:24] have newer, but it's something we don't [00:51:27] ever want to even have to think about. [00:51:29] But when somebody mentions it, that [00:51:30] submarine started immediately [00:51:32] thereafter. [00:51:34] And it's just lurking, but I'm sure [00:51:35] we're not going to have to use it. But [00:51:38] it's a an amazing. [00:51:40] It's undetectable. Totally. Ours is. [00:51:43] Theirs isn't theirs are totally [00:51:45] detectable. We can detect them easily. [00:51:47] We go right to the spot. But we have u [00:51:50] genius apparatus that doesn't allow [00:51:53] detection. It doesn't allow detection at [00:51:55] all by by anybody above water or below [00:51:58] water. It's incredible. We're way ahead [00:52:00] of everybody in that and other things. [00:52:02] As a result of the exciting renewal of [00:52:06] the spirit of our armed forces, and [00:52:07] that's what it is. It's really reaching [00:52:10] at spirit unprecedented heights. Over [00:52:14] the past eight months, new enlistments, [00:52:16] I'm so proud of this, have surged to [00:52:18] record highs, the highest we've ever [00:52:20] had. And we used to have recruiting [00:52:23] shortages. If you remember about a year [00:52:26] and a half ago, I was at the beginning [00:52:28] stage of a campaign and things came out [00:52:32] that you couldn't get people to join the [00:52:34] armed forces. And by the way, the police [00:52:36] also, [00:52:37] fire department, I always put the fire [00:52:39] department in because they're great. [00:52:41] They're great. And I got 95% of their [00:52:43] vote, too. That helps. When you get 95% [00:52:46] of their vote, you always have to [00:52:47] mention them. But they're great. And [00:52:50] they're brave in our inner cities, which [00:52:53] we're going to be talking about because [00:52:54] it's so it's a big part of war now. It's [00:52:56] a big part of war, but the firemen go up [00:52:58] in ladders and you have people shooting [00:53:00] at them while they're up in ladders. I [00:53:01] don't even know if anybody heard that, [00:53:02] but And I said, "Don't talk about it [00:53:05] much, but I think you have to. Our [00:53:06] firemen are incredible. They're up in [00:53:08] one of these ladders that goes way up to [00:53:10] the sky rescuing people. And you have [00:53:12] animals [00:53:14] shooting at them, shooting bullets at [00:53:17] firemen that are way up in in death [00:53:20] territory. You fall off that ladder, [00:53:22] it's over. It's over. They don't even [00:53:24] have to inspect you when you hit the [00:53:27] ground. And you have people shooting [00:53:29] bullets at them in some of these inner [00:53:31] cities. We're not going to let that [00:53:33] happen. [00:53:34] So, I always mention the firemen because [00:53:36] that's actually a big problem we have. [00:53:39] They are unbelievable. Like you, they're [00:53:41] unbelievable people. [00:53:43] For the first time on record in 2025, [00:53:46] the Navy, Air Force, and Space Force all [00:53:49] met or surpassed their recruiting goals [00:53:52] three months early. That never happened [00:53:54] before. And the Army did even better. [00:53:59] Congratulations, Army. They met [00:54:02] everything. And these were the highest [00:54:03] standards because we're making it [00:54:06] larger. So these were much higher [00:54:07] standards than you had four years ago, [00:54:09] three years ago during the sleepy Joe [00:54:11] Biden era. And the army did it four [00:54:16] months early. And you remember a year [00:54:20] and a half ago, they said big stories [00:54:22] that were way behind with the army, air [00:54:24] force, the navy, the marines were way [00:54:27] behind. Coast Guard and even Space [00:54:30] Force. I love Space Wars cuz that was my [00:54:32] creation. You know, when you create [00:54:33] something, I love it. And the people we [00:54:35] put in there were good. I got that [00:54:37] right. We put in great people initially [00:54:39] and we we've really dominated. We really [00:54:41] dominate in that sphere now. We uh we're [00:54:45] way behind China and Russia and now we [00:54:48] dominate. Space force turned out to be a [00:54:50] very important thing. I said from the [00:54:52] beginning, you know, when Biden came [00:54:54] into office, he wanted to terminate. He [00:54:55] said, "And this thing called Space [00:54:57] Force, so we can get rid of that." and [00:54:59] he got hammered by the people in this [00:55:01] room for even suggesting it because it's [00:55:04] very important, one of the most [00:55:05] important. And as time goes by, it'll [00:55:08] get more and more important. [00:55:11] But we're now at 106% of our recruiting [00:55:14] targets for the year, and that's the [00:55:16] best in far more than a generation. And [00:55:20] for the Marines, morale is so strong [00:55:22] that the Marine Corps will meet its 2026 [00:55:25] retention targets before the end of [00:55:27] October, which never happens. And that's [00:55:30] the earliest it's ever happened in the [00:55:32] history of our country. And it makes you [00:55:34] feel good. You know, I felt guilty. I' [00:55:36] I'd go make a speech in front of never [00:55:39] people like you. You are the you are the [00:55:42] leaders, but people, soldiers. And [00:55:47] I felt embarrassed because there'd be [00:55:49] stories about, you know, you couldn't we [00:55:52] couldn't fill up our army, navy, air [00:55:55] force. We couldn't fill them up. And it [00:55:58] was headlines. It was headlines. It was [00:56:01] during Biden's four years. Do I have to [00:56:04] sign for a general because we have [00:56:06] beautiful paper, the gorgeous paper. I [00:56:08] said, "Throw a little more gold on it. [00:56:10] They deserve it. Give me I want the A [00:56:12] paper, not the D paper." We used to sign [00:56:15] a piece of garbage. I said, "This man's [00:56:17] going to be a general, right?" Yeah. I [00:56:19] don't want to use this. I want to use [00:56:21] the big beautiful firm paper. I want to [00:56:24] use the real gold writing when you talk [00:56:27] about the position and they're [00:56:29] beautiful. And uh but how would you like [00:56:33] to have that where you some kid sitting [00:56:35] in the back office is having it signed [00:56:37] with an auto pen? I thought about it and [00:56:39] I thought about you people first, [00:56:41] admirals, generals. I said somebody [00:56:43] works his his whole life. He gets into [00:56:48] maybe themies or wherever but however [00:56:51] you got there and you go through years [00:56:53] of work and now you become an admiral or [00:56:55] a general or whatever [00:56:58] and when you do the president of the [00:57:00] United States just signs your commission [00:57:02] as you know and that commission is [00:57:04] beautifully displayed [00:57:06] and I sign it. Actually I love my [00:57:08] signature. I really do. Everyone loves [00:57:11] my signature. [00:57:12] But I signed it very proudly and I [00:57:14] always think to myself, how can you have [00:57:15] an auto pen sign this? It's just so [00:57:17] disrespectful to me. It's just totally [00:57:19] disrespectful. And it turned out that [00:57:21] almost everything he did was signed by [00:57:24] uh by autopen except for what he gave [00:57:26] his son Hunter pardon. He signed that [00:57:28] one. And that's actually the worst [00:57:31] signature I've ever seen. That was so [00:57:33] bad. The autopen looks like for the [00:57:39] decades be so strong that no nation will [00:57:42] dare challenge us. So powerful that no [00:57:45] enemy will dare threaten us and so [00:57:47] capable that no adversary can even think [00:57:49] about beating us and we've had it [00:57:52] recently. I had uh India and Pakistan [00:57:56] were going at it and I called them both [00:57:59] and in this case I use trade. I'm not [00:58:01] going to trade with you. used to have [00:58:02] two nuclear nations, big nuclear, [00:58:06] no, no, no, you cannot do that. I said, [00:58:07] yes, I can. You go into this freaking [00:58:10] war that I'm hearing about. You know, [00:58:11] actually, they just shot down seven [00:58:13] planes. Seven planes. It was starting. [00:58:16] It was a lot of bad blood. And I said, [00:58:18] you knew this was not going to be any [00:58:20] trade. [00:58:21] And I stopped the war. Was it was going [00:58:24] it was raging for four days, but that [00:58:26] was just the beginning. And we stopped. [00:58:29] It was a great thing. and the prime [00:58:32] minister of Pakistan was here along with [00:58:35] the field marshal who's a very important [00:58:38] guy in Pakistan and he was here 3 days [00:58:40] ago and I didn't even realize it as [00:58:43] beautifully as he said it but he said [00:58:45] that to a group of people that were with [00:58:47] us two generals but a group he said this [00:58:51] man saved millions of lives because he [00:58:54] saved the war from going on and that war [00:58:58] was going to get very bad very very bad. [00:59:01] President Trump saved millions and [00:59:03] millions of lives. That was a bad war. [00:59:06] And uh I was very honored. I love the [00:59:09] way he said it. Susie Wilds was there. [00:59:11] She said that was the most beautiful [00:59:12] thing. But uh we saved a lot of them. [00:59:17] Saved a lot of them. Even in Africa, we [00:59:20] saved the Congo [00:59:23] with Rwanda. [00:59:25] They've been fighting for 31 years. 10 [00:59:27] million people dead. I got that one done [00:59:31] and uh very proud of it. So, if this [00:59:34] works out, we'll have eight eight in [00:59:37] eight months. That's pretty good. [00:59:38] Nobody's ever done that. Will you get [00:59:41] the Nobel Prize? Absolutely not. They'll [00:59:44] give it They'll give it to some guy that [00:59:46] didn't do a damn thing. They'll give it [00:59:48] to a guy that wrote a book about the [00:59:50] mind of Donald Trump and what it took to [00:59:52] solve the wars and he'll get the Nobel [00:59:54] Prize will go to a writer now. But we'll [00:59:58] see what happens. But it's be a big [01:00:00] insult to our country. I will tell you [01:00:02] that. I don't want it. I want the [01:00:03] country to get it. But it should get it [01:00:05] because there's never been anything like [01:00:07] it. Think of it. So if this happens, I [01:00:08] think it will. I don't say that lightly [01:00:10] because I know more about deals than [01:00:12] anybody. This is what my whole life was [01:00:13] based on. And they can change and this [01:00:15] can certainly change. But we have just [01:00:18] about everybody. We have one [01:00:21] signature that we need. And that [01:00:23] signature will will pay in hell if they [01:00:26] don't sign. I hope they sign for their [01:00:28] own good and we create something really [01:00:31] great. [01:00:32] But to have done eight of them [01:00:36] is just like such an honor. And then we [01:00:39] have Putin and Zalinski. [01:00:42] The easiest one of them all. I said that [01:00:45] one I'll get done. I thought that was [01:00:47] going to be first. The others are much [01:00:48] harder. Some of them Azeraijan [01:00:53] was this was going on for 36 years. They [01:00:57] said it's not solvable, sir. You can't [01:00:58] don't do it. I said I will do it. I will [01:01:00] do it. And I got on the phone with the [01:01:03] two countries. They were great. They [01:01:05] were great. I knew immediately. I knew [01:01:07] as soon as I started talking to them, [01:01:08] we're going to solve that war. We did. [01:01:10] Now they're so happy. Now they're [01:01:11] friends. One said he's been president [01:01:14] for 32 years. 22 years. He said, "You [01:01:18] know, for 22 years, I did nothing but [01:01:20] kill his people." They were in the room [01:01:22] together at the Oval Office and they [01:01:24] started off spread like this. I have the [01:01:26] beautiful Resolute desk and one was here [01:01:30] and one was here. You couldn't get [01:01:33] further away. That's the furthest I've [01:01:35] ever seen two people in front of me. And [01:01:38] as the hour went by, they got closer, [01:01:40] closer, closer. And at the end of the [01:01:41] hour, we had it done. And they hugged [01:01:43] and hugged and hugged. And I said, [01:01:46] "That's so nice." And you're going to [01:01:48] remain friends. And I spoke to them, one [01:01:50] of them the other day, he said, "No, [01:01:51] he's now my friend, but for 22 years, [01:01:54] he's been the head of Azeran for 22 [01:01:58] years." [01:02:00] And the other guy, great guy, too. [01:02:02] Seven. And you know that war, that was a [01:02:04] war that was not solvable. [01:02:06] He said, "For seven years." The other [01:02:08] one said, "For 22 years, all I did was [01:02:10] kill his people. That's all I've done." [01:02:13] I said, 'Well, we're going to put a stop [01:02:14] to that. So, we solved that. So, it's a [01:02:17] great thing. It's a great feeling. You [01:02:18] know, you're saving [01:02:20] Kosovo and Serbia. You're saving so many [01:02:24] lives doing this if you can do it. But [01:02:27] our people deserve nothing less than the [01:02:29] very best. And we're never going to let [01:02:32] them down. And if we can solve wars [01:02:34] instead of you having to fight wars, [01:02:37] wouldn't that be wonderful? Right? [01:02:39] Wouldn't that be wonderful? That's why [01:02:41] one of the first executive orders I [01:02:43] signed upon taking office was to restore [01:02:45] the principle of merit. That's the most [01:02:48] important word other than the word [01:02:51] tariff. I love tariffs. [01:02:54] Most beautiful word, but I'm not allowed [01:02:56] to say that anymore. I said tariff is my [01:02:58] favorite word. I love the word tariff. [01:03:01] You know, we're becoming rich as hell. [01:03:03] We have a big case in front of the [01:03:04] Supreme Court but I I can't imagine [01:03:07] because this is what other nations have [01:03:09] done to us and we have you know great [01:03:12] legal grounds and all but you still have [01:03:13] a case would be very bad something [01:03:16] happened but I said my favorite word in [01:03:20] the English dictionary is the word [01:03:22] tariff and people thought that was [01:03:24] strange and the fake news came over and [01:03:27] they really hit me hard on it. They said [01:03:28] what about love? What about religion? [01:03:31] What about God? What about wife, family? [01:03:34] I got killed when I said tariff is my [01:03:37] favorite word. So, I changed. It's now [01:03:39] my fifth favorite word. And I'm okay [01:03:42] with that. I'm okay with that. But they [01:03:45] hit me hard. But it is I mean, when you [01:03:47] look at we've taken in trillions of [01:03:50] dollars. We're rich rich again. And [01:03:53] there'll never be when we finish this [01:03:55] out, there'll never be any wealth like [01:03:58] what we have. Other countries were [01:04:00] taking advantage of us for years and [01:04:02] years. You know that better than anybody [01:04:05] and now we're treating them fairly. But [01:04:08] the money coming in is we've never seen [01:04:10] anything like it. The other day they had [01:04:12] 31 billion that they found. $ 31 [01:04:14] billion. [01:04:16] So we found $ 31 billion and we're not [01:04:18] sure from where it came. A gentleman [01:04:21] came in, a financial guy. I said, "Well, [01:04:25] what does that mean?" He said, "We don't [01:04:27] know where it came." I said, "Check the [01:04:29] tariff shelf." "No, sir. The tariffs [01:04:32] haven't started in that sector yet." I [01:04:34] said, "Yes, they have. They started 7 [01:04:35] weeks ago. Check it." Comes back 20 [01:04:38] minutes later. Sir, you're right. It [01:04:41] came from tariffs. 31 billion. That's [01:04:44] enough to buy a lot of battleships. [01:04:46] Admiral, [01:04:48] to use an old term, I think we should [01:04:50] maybe start thinking about battleships. [01:04:52] By the way, you know, we have a [01:04:54] Secretary of the Navy came to me cuz I [01:04:56] look at the Iowa out in California and I [01:04:59] look at uh different ships in the old [01:05:02] pictures. I used to watch Victory at [01:05:04] Sea. I love Victory at Sea. Look at [01:05:06] these admirals. It's got to be your [01:05:07] alltime fade, black and white. And I [01:05:10] look at those ships. They came with the [01:05:12] destroyers alongside of them. And man, [01:05:14] nothing was going to stop. They were 20 [01:05:16] deep and they were in a straight line. [01:05:18] And there was nothing going to stop [01:05:21] them. And we actually talk about, you [01:05:22] know, those ships. Some people would [01:05:25] say, "No, that's old technology." I [01:05:27] don't know. I don't think it's old [01:05:28] technology when you look at those guns. [01:05:31] But it's something we're actually [01:05:32] considering. The concept of battleship, [01:05:35] nice 6-in size solid steel, not [01:05:38] aluminum. Aluminum that melts if it [01:05:40] looks at a missile coming at it. Starts [01:05:43] melting as the missiles about 2 miles [01:05:45] away. Now, those ships, they don't make [01:05:47] them that way anymore. But you look at [01:05:49] it and uh your secretary likes it and [01:05:52] I'm I'm sort of open to it and and [01:05:55] bullets are a lot less expensive than [01:05:56] missiles. A lot of lot of reasons. I I [01:05:59] should take a vote, but I'm afraid to [01:06:01] take that vote because I may get voted [01:06:03] out on that one. But I tell you, it's uh [01:06:05] it's something we're seriously [01:06:07] considering [01:06:08] there. Uh there were powers. There were [01:06:11] big powers. They were just about as uh [01:06:14] mean and scary as you could be. And so [01:06:17] we're looking at that. One of the [01:06:20] biggest cases that we won was the [01:06:21] decision of the United States Supreme [01:06:23] Court to allow us to proceed on the word [01:06:27] merit. Merit. So those two words are [01:06:30] right up there. So this is I would say [01:06:33] the opposite of you ask for a [01:06:35] definition. The opposite of political [01:06:38] correctness. [01:06:40] We went through political correct where [01:06:44] you had to have people that were totally [01:06:45] unfit to be doing what you're doing. For [01:06:47] many reasons I won't get into them, but [01:06:50] for many reasons they were unfit. Now [01:06:53] it's all based on merit. That was such [01:06:56] an unbelievable decision. I didn't [01:06:58] expect we were going to win that one. We [01:06:59] went in, we said we need it. We went in [01:07:02] for colleges, you know, where kids with [01:07:05] a C average are getting into the best [01:07:07] colleges and the kids with Averages [01:07:10] won't get in. And kids with the highest [01:07:12] boards and the highest marks and the [01:07:14] best marks couldn't get into the best [01:07:15] schools. And people that had not good [01:07:19] boards and not very good marks. I mean, [01:07:21] okay, but nothing special. They were [01:07:24] getting into our best colleges. I said, [01:07:25] "This is just crazy. We can't run You [01:07:27] can't run a country like this." And it's [01:07:31] it was lingering for years and it got to [01:07:34] the Supreme Court and we won that [01:07:36] decision. Merit, everything's based on [01:07:38] merit. You're all based on merit. We're [01:07:41] not going to have somebody taking your [01:07:42] place for political reasons because uh [01:07:45] they are politically correct and you're [01:07:48] not. [01:07:50] We take the people that are going to do [01:07:52] the best job. That's all. It's very [01:07:53] simple. And that's the way our country [01:07:55] was built. We were built on merit. We [01:07:57] got away from it for a long time. [01:08:00] and everyone understands it and it was [01:08:04] done. It was approved. I I give great [01:08:06] credit to the Supreme Court because I [01:08:07] thought they had tremendous courage. I [01:08:10] didn't think they'd do that. That was [01:08:12] tremendous. I give maybe for that [01:08:14] decision almost more than anything I [01:08:16] because it's a hard decision to make. [01:08:19] It's really hard. The apparatus of our [01:08:22] country was not set up for merit. It was [01:08:25] set up for political correctness. And [01:08:28] you can never be great if you're going [01:08:30] to do that. And we're going to be [01:08:32] greater than we ever were before. We're [01:08:35] bringing back a focus on fitness, [01:08:38] ability, character, and strength. And [01:08:40] that's because the purposes of American [01:08:43] military is not to protect anyone's [01:08:45] feelings. It's to protect our republic. [01:08:49] And it's the republic that we dearly [01:08:51] love. It's to protect our country. [01:08:53] We will not be politically correct when [01:08:57] it comes to defending American freedom [01:08:59] and we will be a fighting and winning [01:09:01] machine. We want to fight. We want to [01:09:03] win and we want to fight as little as [01:09:05] possible. You have to count on people [01:09:07] like me to keep you out of wars because [01:09:08] we don't want to go into wars. Many of [01:09:10] the wars that I just told you about. We [01:09:12] could have entered those wars and [01:09:14] settled them in a different way. Lose a [01:09:16] lot of our troops [01:09:18] and uh we could have settled them I [01:09:20] guess differently. Maybe not actually be [01:09:22] actually you might not have been able to [01:09:24] settle them. We just would have been in [01:09:26] the middle of a lot of a lot of [01:09:27] firepower. [01:09:29] But uh but when we do need it, you're [01:09:31] going to be so ready and you know it. [01:09:35] But very importantly, with that goal in [01:09:38] mind, I've committed to spending over $1 [01:09:41] trillion on our military in 2026. And [01:09:45] that's the most in the history of our [01:09:47] country. $1 trillion. That's a lot of [01:09:49] money. I hope you like that. [01:09:52] Ma'ams and sir, I hope you like it. [01:09:55] That's a hell of a lot of money. We have [01:09:56] the best of everything. Every branch is [01:09:59] seeing major investments. And as I [01:10:02] announced in the Oval Office in March, [01:10:05] we are rapidly moving forward with the [01:10:07] first ever sixth generation fighter jet. [01:10:10] I didn't name it. I did not name it. [01:10:13] Boeing came in and they said, "Sir, this [01:10:16] is our submitt. It's the greatest [01:10:18] fighting jet ever done. And you know, [01:10:21] they're testing all these planes. All [01:10:22] the companies are testing and this one [01:10:24] tested like through the roof. [01:10:26] And they said, "We'd like to name it the [01:10:28] F47." [01:10:30] I said, "All right, let me think about [01:10:31] it." Then after thinking for about two [01:10:34] seconds, I said, "Okay." [01:10:37] You know what that means? 47. I'm 47. So [01:10:40] I'm 45, 46, and 47. Yeah, if you think [01:10:43] about it, I just don't want the credit [01:10:45] for 46. [01:10:47] I don't want to have their uh open [01:10:49] borders and people coming in from all [01:10:52] over the world, including jails and [01:10:53] mental instit. I don't want that on my [01:10:55] record, but I like I like having it. [01:10:58] We're investing tens of billions of [01:11:00] dollars in modernizing our nuclear [01:11:02] deterrence capabilities like never [01:11:05] before. And we've begun construction on [01:11:07] what we call the Golden Dome missile [01:11:09] defense shield. It'll be the most [01:11:10] sophisticated in the world. You watched [01:11:12] it do well until they had some problems [01:11:15] at the end with a little bit of a lack [01:11:19] of [01:11:21] ammunition, defensive ammunition, but [01:11:24] they've got that taken care of. But I [01:11:27] tell you, it's uh what we're doing is so [01:11:29] good and we deserve it. You know, we we [01:11:31] help other countries with it. We don't [01:11:32] have it ourselves. [01:11:34] And Canada called me a couple of weeks [01:11:36] ago. They want to be part of it. to [01:11:39] which I said, "Well, why don't you just [01:11:41] join our country? You become 51, become [01:11:43] the 51st state and you get it for free." [01:11:48] So, I don't know if that made a big [01:11:50] impact, but it does make a lot of sense. [01:11:52] It actually because they're having a [01:11:53] hard time up there in Canada now because [01:11:56] as you know with tariffs, everyone's [01:11:58] coming into our country. We have more [01:12:00] investment than we've ever had before. [01:12:02] 17 trillion dollars coming in. As an [01:12:05] example, in four years, Biden didn't [01:12:07] have one trillion. [01:12:09] We have 17 trillion more than that in [01:12:12] eight months coming in. And they're [01:12:15] coming in from Canada, Mexico, from [01:12:17] Europe, from all over. AI, auto plants. [01:12:21] Everybody's coming back to the United [01:12:23] States. Under my budget, we will be [01:12:26] expanding the US Navy by at least 19 [01:12:29] ships next year, including submarines, [01:12:31] destroyers, assault ships, and more. And [01:12:34] it's going to be much more than that as [01:12:36] we go along because we basically don't [01:12:38] build ships anymore. We do build [01:12:39] submarines, but we don't build [01:12:42] ships. Do you know in the uh Second [01:12:45] World War they were freigherss and [01:12:47] different types, but we were doing a [01:12:48] ship a day and now we don't do ships. [01:12:52] And I'm not a fan of some of the ships [01:12:54] you do. I'm a very aesthetic person and [01:12:56] I don't like some of the ships you're [01:12:58] doing aesthetically. They say, "Oh, it's [01:13:01] stealth." They said that's that's an [01:13:03] ugly ship. It's not necessary in order [01:13:06] to say use stealth. By the way, the B2 [01:13:10] bombers were incredible. That is [01:13:11] stealth. They went into that. I was with [01:13:15] General Kane and every Pete were in the [01:13:18] we call it the war room. But we're [01:13:21] watching them go in and they were [01:13:22] totally untouched. They were not seen. [01:13:25] They were literally not seen. They [01:13:26] dropped their bombs. They hit every [01:13:28] single one of them. Hit its target. It [01:13:30] was total obliteration. [01:13:32] CNN when we came back fake news CNN oh [01:13:35] their camera just went off. You know [01:13:38] their camera every time I mention they [01:13:40] turn the camera off because it's never [01:13:41] good. They said this is a problem. But I [01:13:44] don't blame him. You're better off [01:13:45] keeping it off. But uh they they have [01:13:48] some scammer reporter who started saying [01:13:51] without any knowledge that he may not [01:13:54] have hit the targets as well as they [01:13:56] thought. It may not been obliteration. [01:13:59] He did hit the targets and I got to give [01:14:01] us a little credit, right? It was [01:14:02] obliteration. It turned out the Atomic [01:14:05] Energy Commission said it was obliter. [01:14:20] But they had, I guess, a beam going [01:14:22] right into these shoots. Every single [01:14:24] one of those bombs went right down those [01:14:26] shoots into a granite mountain. I think [01:14:28] it's the last time they're going to [01:14:30] build air shoots. They had these air [01:14:32] shoots that were nice, beautiful. They [01:14:34] were meant for us, but it was total [01:14:36] obliteration. And now they give us [01:14:39] credit for that. But these people were [01:14:41] phenomenal. I tell you, for the Air [01:14:42] Force people here, uh you can be very [01:14:45] proud that Beto, we just ordered a lot [01:14:47] of new ones. New ones and uh updated [01:14:52] ones, but I'd be I'd take the other [01:14:54] ones, let me tell you. They couldn't [01:14:55] have worked any better. So they flew for [01:14:59] uh 37 hours total back and forth, no [01:15:03] stops, no nothing. We had 52 tankers [01:15:05] loading them up. And that's a job I [01:15:07] wouldn't necessarily want too much. [01:15:09] Flying a tanker loaded up with hundreds [01:15:11] of thousands of gallons of fuel. I don't [01:15:14] know if I'd do that job, General. I [01:15:17] asked the question, "What happens if it [01:15:18] gets hit?" Sir, you don't want to know [01:15:20] about that, right? I don't want to know [01:15:22] about that. But those guys, they just [01:15:24] hear heroes. They're incredible. We had [01:15:25] them all to the Oval Office. We had the [01:15:28] B2 pilots and a lot of the people, even [01:15:30] the people that uh took care of them, [01:15:33] the maintenance people, just as [01:15:34] important. We had them all to the White [01:15:36] House, gave him a big party on the lawn, [01:15:39] brought some of them into the Oval [01:15:40] Office. But on top of all this, we'll [01:15:43] deliver a hard-earned pay raise of 3.8% [01:15:46] to every soldier, sailor, airmen, coast [01:15:48] guardsmen, space guard, and marines. [01:15:51] Something you weren't getting from the [01:15:52] past administration. They did not do [01:15:55] with respect. They're Democrats. They [01:15:57] never do. Not only are we rebuilding our [01:16:00] great strength, but for the first time [01:16:02] in years, my administration is actually [01:16:04] using that strength to defend the core [01:16:06] and vital interests of America. And very [01:16:08] simply, we are putting America first. [01:16:10] And I have since I've been elected. I've [01:16:12] always put America first. It's sort of [01:16:15] simple, you know, when you think it's my [01:16:18] campaign was run on common sense. And we [01:16:21] did great. We got the highest number [01:16:27] districts. You know, they have it broken [01:16:29] up. 25,500 [01:16:31] versus 525. [01:16:34] We won every swing state. We won the [01:16:36] popular vote. We won everything. We won [01:16:39] everything. You have to take a look at [01:16:40] the map. It's almost entirely red except [01:16:42] there's a little blue line on each [01:16:45] coast. And I think that's going to [01:16:46] disappear, too. We did really great. And [01:16:49] part of it is because of our success [01:16:51] with the military, the rebuilding of the [01:16:52] military, the vote that I got from the [01:16:55] military and they was the vicious people [01:16:57] you know that we have to fight just like [01:16:59] you have to fight vicious people. Mine [01:17:01] are different a different kind of [01:17:03] vicious but uh they spread all these [01:17:06] horrible you know they made up [01:17:07] statements and said what I said about [01:17:09] everything but even about the military [01:17:12] but fortunately the military didn't [01:17:13] believe it. It's hard you know they make [01:17:15] up a statement and they said you say it. [01:17:17] We had 25 people that said he never said [01:17:19] that. 25. We had 25 affidavits. [01:17:23] And they said, "Well, we're going with [01:17:24] it anyway." You know, these sleeves bags [01:17:27] and it's why the press is really losing [01:17:29] all power because people aren't [01:17:31] believing it. We need an honest press. [01:17:33] We need borders. We need borders. We [01:17:35] need an honest press. We need fair [01:17:37] elections. I mean, those three things. [01:17:39] And we we don't have an honest press. We [01:17:41] have a really corrupt press. But we [01:17:43] fight through the corrupt press. And the [01:17:44] people understand you have to do this [01:17:47] stuff a lot. You have to go on [01:17:48] television a lot because you can't get a [01:17:50] fair shake if you're going to rely on [01:17:51] somebody else. It's they're just uh they [01:17:54] don't understand. They've destroyed the [01:17:56] the image of media now is at the lowest [01:17:58] point it's ever been. It's lower than [01:18:01] Congress. Can you believe that? It's [01:18:03] something. But together with many of you [01:18:06] in the room, we've brought back the [01:18:08] fundamental principle that defending the [01:18:11] homeland is the military's first and [01:18:13] most important priority. That's what it [01:18:15] is. Only in recent decades did [01:18:18] politicians somehow come to believe that [01:18:20] our job is to police the far reaches of [01:18:22] Kenya and Somalia while America is under [01:18:26] invasion from within. We're under [01:18:27] invasion from within. [01:18:31] No different than a foreign enemy, but [01:18:35] more difficult in many ways because they [01:18:37] don't wear uniforms. At least when [01:18:39] they're wearing a uniform, you can take [01:18:40] them out. These people don't have [01:18:42] uniforms. But we are under invasion from [01:18:45] within. We're stopping it very quickly. [01:18:48] After spending trillions of dollars [01:18:49] defending the borders of foreign [01:18:51] countries, with your help, we're [01:18:53] defending the borders of our country [01:18:57] from now on. We're not going to let this [01:18:59] happen. Biden let people come in from [01:19:01] prisons, mental institutions, drug [01:19:04] dealers, [01:19:05] murderers. [01:19:07] You know, we had 11,488 [01:19:10] murderers allowed into our country by [01:19:12] this guy who had no clue. He had no [01:19:15] clue. [01:19:17] He shouldn't have been there in the [01:19:18] first place, but he had no clue. The [01:19:20] people that ran the de the the office, [01:19:24] the White House were people that [01:19:27] surrounded him. radical left lunatics [01:19:30] that are brilliant [01:19:35] people but and uh they allowed people [01:19:37] from all over the world from the Congo [01:19:40] they opened up prisons in the Congo they [01:19:43] came into our country totally [01:19:46] unmatched unvetted unchecked and uh from [01:19:50] all over South America not just South [01:19:52] America you know you think South America [01:19:54] no but from all over lot came in from [01:19:56] Venezuela Venez Venezuela emptied its [01:19:58] prison population into our country. [01:20:01] That's why they have trend dear raw. One [01:20:03] of the worst gangs ever. [01:20:06] But we took care of them. We took good [01:20:08] strong care of them. And I just want to [01:20:10] thank the National Guard in Washington [01:20:12] DC. It was It's embarrassing to say this [01:20:16] now. I can say it because we solved it. [01:20:18] But Washington DC was the most unsafe, [01:20:21] most dangerous city in the United States [01:20:23] of America. and to a large extent beyond [01:20:26] and beyond that go to some you go to [01:20:29] Afghanistan they didn't have anything [01:20:31] like that you go to countries that you [01:20:32] would think there's problems they didn't [01:20:34] have that and now Washington DC after 12 [01:20:38] days [01:20:39] of serious [01:20:41] serious intensity we took out 1 1700 [01:20:45] career criminals if you have five career [01:20:48] criminals they can make your numbers [01:20:50] look very bad because they'll commit [01:20:52] many crimes a [01:20:54] But we took out 1,700 and they took them [01:20:56] out. There was no doubt who the boss [01:20:58] was. They did an unbelievable job. Then [01:21:01] they started even cleaning. I said, "I [01:21:03] don't want them doing that, sir. They [01:21:04] want to." They were cleaning it up. I I [01:21:06] drove through it two days ago. It was [01:21:08] beautiful. People are walking down the [01:21:09] street holding hands. Men and wife [01:21:12] coming from Iowa. They're not worried [01:21:13] about being shot. Washington DC is now a [01:21:17] safe city. In fact, I went out to dinner [01:21:19] with my crew. I I haven't done that. [01:21:22] theory, I wouldn't do it. And I felt [01:21:25] totally safe. Nobody's been attacked. [01:21:28] Nobody's been hurt. Washington DC went [01:21:31] from our most unsafe city to just about [01:21:34] our safest city in a period of a month. [01:21:37] We had it under control in 12 days, but [01:21:40] give us another 15, 16 days. It was it's [01:21:43] it's perfect. And people other than [01:21:45] politicians that look bad, they think, [01:21:47] you know, the the Democrats run most of [01:21:50] the cities that are in bad shape. We [01:21:52] have many cities in great shape, too, by [01:21:54] the way. I want you to know that. But it [01:21:57] seems that the ones that are run by the [01:21:59] radical left Democrats, what they've [01:22:01] done to San Francisco, Chicago, [01:22:04] New York, Los Angeles, they're very [01:22:07] unsafe places. And we're going to [01:22:09] straighten them out one by one. And this [01:22:11] is going to be a major part for some of [01:22:13] the people in this room. That's a war, [01:22:14] too. It's a war from within. Controlling [01:22:17] the physical territory of our border is [01:22:20] essential to national security. We can't [01:22:22] let these people in. You know, we had no [01:22:25] people enter in the last four months. [01:22:27] Zero. Even I can't believe that. You [01:22:29] know, we had millions coming in pouring [01:22:31] in. 25 million all told. And of those 25 [01:22:35] million, many of them should never be in [01:22:36] our country. They would take their worst [01:22:38] people and their people from prisons and [01:22:40] jail and they put them in a caravan and [01:22:42] they'd walk up. [01:22:44] CNN was interviewing one person. Oh, why [01:22:47] are you coming by? What freedom? Good. [01:22:50] Were you in jail? Yes. For what? Murder. [01:22:55] He said, "You're in for You had to see [01:22:57] this anchor, a young woman." She's like, [01:22:59] I couldn't believe she'll probably lose [01:23:02] her job. But because the left doesn't [01:23:05] want to hear that, but we're running it [01:23:07] based on common sense and based on love [01:23:09] of our country. But I want to salute [01:23:12] every service member who has helped us [01:23:14] carry out this critical mission. It's [01:23:15] really a very important mission. And I [01:23:17] told Pete, we should use some of these [01:23:19] dangerous cities as training grounds for [01:23:22] our military, National Guard, but [01:23:24] military, [01:23:26] because we're going into Chicago very [01:23:28] soon. That's a big city with an [01:23:30] incompetent governor. Stupid governor. [01:23:32] Stupid. They threw him out of his family [01:23:34] business. He was so stupid. I know the [01:23:36] family. [01:23:37] He becomes governor. He's got money. [01:23:40] Not money that he made. But he ran for [01:23:43] governor. He won. And now he criticizes [01:23:45] us all the time. And last week they had [01:23:47] 11 people murdered, 44 people shot. The [01:23:52] week before that they had five people [01:23:53] murdered, 28 people shot. Every weekend [01:23:56] they lose five, six. If they lose five, [01:23:59] they're considering it a great week. [01:24:01] They shouldn't lose any. You shouldn't [01:24:03] lose any. This is civilization. [01:24:07] And he's always up there saying, uh, [01:24:09] we're in very good shape. We don't need [01:24:11] the military. No, they need the military [01:24:13] desperately. How about Portland? [01:24:16] Portland, Oregon, where it looks like a [01:24:19] war zone. And I get a call from the [01:24:22] Liberal governor. Sir, please don't come [01:24:25] in. We don't need you. I said, "Well, [01:24:27] unless they're playing false tapes, this [01:24:29] looked like World War II. Your place is [01:24:33] burning down. [01:24:35] I mean, you must be kidding, sir. We [01:24:37] have it under control." I said, "You [01:24:38] don't have it under control, Governor, [01:24:40] but I'll check it." And I called you [01:24:42] back. I called her back. I said, "You [01:24:44] you this place is a nightmare. It's [01:24:48] probably It's certainly not the biggest, [01:24:49] but it's one of the worst. It's brew. [01:24:52] They go after our ICE people who are [01:24:54] great patriots and tough job too, but [01:24:57] they love it. They love it because [01:24:58] they're cleaning up our country. And so [01:25:01] you look at some of the things where [01:25:03] they took over parts of Seattle. They [01:25:04] actually took over a big percentage of [01:25:07] Seattle. Think of that. You remember [01:25:09] that? That was a while ago. And I sent [01:25:12] in the troops and they were gone as soon [01:25:14] as I sent them in. Oh, when we send in [01:25:16] the troops, if you have a real leader [01:25:18] that says you got to do what you have to [01:25:20] do, I put that out the other day. You [01:25:22] got to do what you got to do because we [01:25:25] don't want our people hurt as they stand [01:25:27] by. I was watching during Biden, they [01:25:29] had troops standing up like this, brave [01:25:32] standing up at tension the way I should [01:25:34] stand all the time and like this. And [01:25:38] people are standing, their mouth is this [01:25:40] far away from their mouth and they're [01:25:43] spitting at him and they're screaming at [01:25:45] him. And that soldier standing there, he [01:25:48] wants to knock the hell out of the [01:25:50] person, but he's not allowed to do [01:25:54] anything. So they just stand there and [01:25:56] they they get abused. And the a woman [01:25:58] was this far away from his face and she [01:26:01] starts spitting in his face and he's not [01:26:04] allowed to do anything. Uh, if it's okay [01:26:06] with you generals and admirals, I've uh [01:26:09] taken that off. I say they spit, we hit. [01:26:13] Is that okay? I think so. They spit. [01:26:16] It's a new It's a new thing. They spit, [01:26:18] we hit. How about the cars where the [01:26:20] cars are coming out? They get brand new [01:26:22] cars, border patrol, ice, beautiful, [01:26:24] nice new cars. [01:26:26] And they're driving the long and they [01:26:28] have to go through a gauntlet of rocks [01:26:31] being thrown at the car. So, here's this [01:26:33] beautiful brand new car. By the time it [01:26:35] goes 100 yards, it's destroyed. [01:26:40] These guys have pretty good arms, some [01:26:42] of them. And they're throwing bricks at [01:26:44] full force into the window and into the [01:26:46] car. It looks like it's a war zone. And [01:26:51] I said, "Never let that happen again. [01:26:52] From now on, if that ever happens," and [01:26:54] I say, "Here, you get out of that car [01:26:57] and you can do whatever the hell you [01:26:59] want to do cuz those people are are, you [01:27:02] know, you can die from that. as bricks [01:27:04] go through the windows, you can die. [01:27:06] They'd like it to they'd like it to go [01:27:08] through the window, but this was a [01:27:10] couple of months ago. They just kept [01:27:11] driving and bricks are hitting the car. [01:27:13] And I said, "Why aren't they stopping?" [01:27:15] Because they were under orders from the [01:27:16] past administration. Never stop. But [01:27:19] that's different with us. We we stop. [01:27:21] And since I gave that order, we haven't [01:27:23] had that problem. It's very interesting. [01:27:25] It's amazing. It's just like uh in [01:27:28] Venezuela, you've seen the boats going. [01:27:31] We can't find any more boats. They're [01:27:33] they're carrying drugs, massive every [01:27:36] boat kills about 25,000 people. That's [01:27:39] what they have. They had fentinyl mostly [01:27:41] and a lot of other drugs and we take [01:27:43] them out and we've taken out four. So, [01:27:48] and it's on air. Everybody gets to see. [01:27:51] Not that we like to do that, but every [01:27:53] boat kills 25,000 on average. 20 there. [01:27:57] Some people say war. You know, you see [01:27:58] these posts are stacked up with bags of [01:28:00] white powder that's mostly fentinol and [01:28:03] other drugstore. [01:28:05] And now we have a problem. Uh General K [01:28:09] says, "Sir, there are no boats out [01:28:10] there. Not even fishing boats. They [01:28:12] don't want to go fishing. I don't blame [01:28:14] him. There'll be no fishing today, you [01:28:17] know. But it's uh amazing what strength [01:28:20] will do because all we want to do is [01:28:23] stop drugs from flowing into our [01:28:24] country. It's destroying. We lost [01:28:26] 300,000 people died last year. Everybody [01:28:29] knows friends, many friends probably [01:28:31] that you lost a child or adults too, but [01:28:34] you lost a son or daughter because of [01:28:36] what's coming into our border. And uh [01:28:40] we're making it very hard. Oh, and we [01:28:42] haven't even started yet. Last month, I [01:28:45] signed an executive order to provide [01:28:47] training for quick reaction force that [01:28:51] can help quell civil disturbances. This [01:28:53] is going to be a big thing for the [01:28:55] people in this room because it's the [01:28:58] enemy from within and we have to handle [01:29:00] it before it gets out of control. It [01:29:02] won't get out of control once once [01:29:04] you're involved at all. They all joke. [01:29:08] They say, "Oh, this is not good." You [01:29:11] saw it in Washington. We had gangs of [01:29:12] trend day with 10, 12, 15 kids and these [01:29:16] military guys walk up to them and they [01:29:19] treat them with disrespect and they just [01:29:21] got pounded. [01:29:23] They just got pounded. The gang just [01:29:26] pounded. Then thrown into patty wagons [01:29:29] and taken back to their country. [01:29:33] Some are so dangerous. We don't want to [01:29:34] even do that because we don't want to. [01:29:36] Some of stone cold murders. We don't [01:29:39] have the confidence. Even though they're [01:29:40] not coming back very easily. We don't [01:29:42] have the conference. We put them in [01:29:43] jails. But these service members are [01:29:46] following in a great and storied [01:29:48] military tradition from protecting [01:29:51] frontier communities to chasing outlaws [01:29:53] and bandits in the Wild West. And our [01:29:56] history is filled with military heroes [01:29:58] who took on all enemies, foreign and [01:30:00] domestic. You know that phrase [01:30:03] very well. That's what the oath says, [01:30:05] foreign and domestic. Well, we also have [01:30:07] domestic. George Washington, Abraham [01:30:10] Lincoln, Grover Cleveland, George Bush, [01:30:15] and others all used the armed forces to [01:30:17] keep domestic order and peace. Many of [01:30:20] our leaders used the military to keep [01:30:24] peace. Now, they like to say, "Oh, [01:30:25] you're not allowed to use the military." [01:30:27] And you know what the people say? The [01:30:29] people in those cities where they're [01:30:30] being raped and shot and beat up, you [01:30:34] know what they say? We love the mil. You [01:30:36] ever see where they interview the people [01:30:37] on the street? I've never seen somebody [01:30:39] say they don't unless they're radical [01:30:41] and paid off because a lot of these [01:30:43] insurrectionists are paid by whether [01:30:46] it's Soros or other people, but they're [01:30:48] paid by the radical left. So today, I [01:30:51] want to thank every service member from [01:30:52] general to private who has bravely [01:30:54] helped us secure the nation's capital [01:30:57] and make America safe for the American [01:30:59] people. It's amazing. The whole world is [01:31:01] watching. Everybody in the White House, [01:31:03] they come up to me, young women, sir, [01:31:05] thank you. I know immediately what [01:31:07] they're thank you. I don't They don't [01:31:08] have to say it. They walk to work now to [01:31:10] the White House. We haven't had a crime [01:31:12] in Washington in so long because we got [01:31:15] the careers. We call them the careers. [01:31:18] We got these lunatics out and they'll [01:31:22] never be any good. You know, I hate to [01:31:23] tell this to to the liberal media. You [01:31:27] could spend time with them. You could do [01:31:31] whatever you want. You could send them [01:31:32] to the finer schools, which they [01:31:33] couldn't get into anyway. Mentally, they [01:31:36] couldn't get in. But no matter what you [01:31:38] do, they'll never be good. They're bad. [01:31:40] They're they're career criminals. They I [01:31:43] don't know. Maybe they were born that [01:31:44] way. Some people don't like me to say [01:31:47] that, but maybe they were. Certainly, [01:31:49] some were. Together with the leaders [01:31:51] here today, we're also restoring a [01:31:53] needed focus on defeating threats in the [01:31:56] Western Hemisphere. Throughout this [01:31:58] region, cartel terrorists have been [01:32:00] allowed to wage a relentless campaign of [01:32:03] death and destruction on our country. [01:32:06] All because we had weak leadership on [01:32:08] top and we did a great job with it first [01:32:11] term. But uh this is something else what [01:32:13] we're doing now. We're taking it to the [01:32:15] next level probably next level times [01:32:18] three. [01:32:20] But we had CO come up and we had to take [01:32:21] care of that. We did a great job with [01:32:23] CO. We had the uh therapeutics [01:32:28] was just regeneron so many things we did [01:32:30] for co but we had to focus on that and [01:32:32] every other country in the world was [01:32:34] being decimated by co so we had to [01:32:37] change gear a little bit to take care of [01:32:39] that but under our leadership the [01:32:41] military is now the knife's edge in [01:32:44] combating the sinister enemy we have to [01:32:47] put the traffickers and cartels on [01:32:49] notice and we've done that and we put [01:32:51] them a lot of them we've uh called I'm a [01:32:54] terrorist organization, which is [01:32:55] actually a big thing to do. Nobody's [01:32:58] done it, but I've done it with a lot of [01:33:00] them. It gives you a tremendous [01:33:02] advantage. If you try to poison our [01:33:04] people, we will blow you out of [01:33:07] existence because that's the only [01:33:10] language they really understand. That's [01:33:12] why you don't see any more boats on the [01:33:14] ocean. You don't see any boats around [01:33:16] Venezuela. There's nothing. [01:33:19] As president, I will never hesitate to [01:33:21] defend our people from threats of of [01:33:25] violence, from the uh the horrible [01:33:29] plague that's taking place from within [01:33:33] the Iran nuclear [01:33:36] power, the Iran, all of the the great [01:33:39] power that we thought existed, we blew [01:33:44] it out to kingdom. We took advantage of [01:33:47] it and we just really took advantage of [01:33:50] it and it was a beautiful thing to see [01:33:52] and [01:33:53] that's what military power can achieve. [01:33:57] That's why I chose Raisin Kane. He's [01:34:01] fantastic by the way. I hope you all [01:34:03] agree. If anybody disagrees, could I [01:34:05] please have your hand? Who disappears [01:34:07] that Raisin Kane is no good? Just raise [01:34:09] your hand. I don't see any hands raised. [01:34:13] All right. That means you're okay. That [01:34:15] means that he's okay now. But I saw his [01:34:18] results. You know, he he took out ISIS. [01:34:20] I was told it was going to take four [01:34:22] years. It took four weeks. I went to see [01:34:25] him and he took him out in four weeks. [01:34:27] Knocked him out. Knocked him to hell. [01:34:30] And I was told by military people it was [01:34:32] going to take four to five years to do [01:34:34] it. And I don't even know if we'll have [01:34:36] it then, sir. These were the Washington [01:34:38] generals. I call them the television [01:34:39] generals. But Raisin Kane did it in four [01:34:42] weeks. took out 100% of the ISIS [01:34:44] caliphate. As a result of these actions [01:34:47] and many others since my inauguration, [01:34:50] we're witnessing the triumphant return [01:34:52] of peace through strength. We have great [01:34:54] peace through strength. America is [01:34:56] respected again as a country. We were [01:34:58] not respected with Biden. They looked at [01:35:01] him falling downstairs every day. Every [01:35:03] day the guy's falling downstairs. He [01:35:05] said, "It's not our president. We can't [01:35:08] have it." I I'm very careful. You know, [01:35:11] when I walk downstairs for like I'm on [01:35:14] stairs like these stairs, I'm very I [01:35:16] walk very slowly. [01:35:19] Nobody has to set a record. Just try not [01:35:22] to fall cuz it doesn't work out well. A [01:35:26] few of our presidents have fallen and it [01:35:28] became a part of their legacy. We don't [01:35:31] want that. You walk nice and easy. [01:35:33] You're not have you don't have to set [01:35:34] any record. Be cool. [01:35:36] Be cool when you walk down, but don't [01:35:39] don't bop down the stairs. So, one thing [01:35:41] with Obama, I have zero respect for him [01:35:44] as a president, but he would bop down [01:35:45] those stairs. I've never said, [01:35:49] you go down the stairs, wouldn't hold [01:35:51] on. I said, "It's great. I don't want to [01:35:53] do it. I guess I could do it, but [01:35:54] eventually bad things are going to [01:35:57] happen." And it only takes once. But he [01:36:00] did a lousy job as president. [01:36:03] A year ago, we were a dead country. We [01:36:06] were dead. This country was going to [01:36:08] hell. We were dead in every way from [01:36:11] immigration to military. We didn't have [01:36:13] the weapons. We given everything to uh [01:36:17] we've given everything to Ukraine. We [01:36:19] had nothing. And by the way, I have to [01:36:22] tell you now, as you know, I went over [01:36:25] and I met with NATO and NATO raised from [01:36:27] two to five, which everyone said 5% of [01:36:30] GDP. [01:36:32] millions and now trillions of dollars [01:36:34] are pouring in. They didn't pay the 2% [01:36:37] because they know we were there to pay [01:36:38] it and now they paid the 5%. That's [01:36:41] trillions of dollars and we're not [01:36:42] spending any money on that war. Not 10 [01:36:44] cents. We sell our equipment to NATO. [01:36:47] NATO pays us for the equipment and they [01:36:49] give it to Ukraine or whoever they give [01:36:51] it to. But they can keep it, but we're [01:36:53] not involved. We have no money going [01:36:55] out. Biden gave $350 billion dollars. [01:36:59] Not sustainable. 350 billion [01:37:02] and uh we have a war that should have [01:37:05] never started, but we're not doing that [01:37:07] anymore. So, I just want you to know [01:37:08] we're selling equipment. Our people are [01:37:11] buying equipment. They're buying they [01:37:13] are buying the equipment at at full [01:37:15] price, a fair price. [01:37:18] So, I don't want to say we're making [01:37:19] money because I don't want to say I [01:37:20] don't want to be making money on a war. [01:37:22] It's too many people dying. They're [01:37:23] losing 7,000 soldiers a week. A lot of [01:37:27] them are Russian soldiers, but between [01:37:28] the two countries, mostly soldiers, by [01:37:30] the way. Sometimes, you know, in Kiev, [01:37:33] they'll lob a missile in or some drones [01:37:35] in, kill some people, but mostly it's [01:37:38] soldiers. Russia and Ukraine are losing [01:37:41] 7,000 souls. And you know, they're not [01:37:45] uh they're not American. They're not us. [01:37:48] They're not you or have a special [01:37:50] obligation, but they're soldiers. [01:37:53] They're young people. They leave their [01:37:54] parents. They wave goodbye. and then two [01:37:56] days later they're blown up so [01:37:58] unnecessarily. [01:38:00] And so that's the primary reason I want [01:38:02] to get it done. Uh we got to get it [01:38:05] done. It's crazy what's going on. That's [01:38:07] the worst war that there's been since [01:38:09] World War II. The number of soldiers [01:38:11] that are being killed there is just [01:38:12] crazy. From 5 to 7,000 soldiers die a [01:38:16] week. Think of that. [01:38:18] So I think we'll get that done. But [01:38:20] that's turned out to be the toughest [01:38:21] one. I'm so disappointed in President [01:38:23] Putin. I thought I thought he would get [01:38:25] this thing over with. He should have had [01:38:28] that war done in a week. [01:38:30] And I said to him, you know, you you [01:38:33] don't look good. You're four years [01:38:35] fighting a war that should have taken a [01:38:36] week. Are you a paper tiger? [01:38:40] And uh it's a shame, but I think [01:38:43] eventually we'll get that one done just [01:38:46] like we in theory. I want to knock on [01:38:48] wood because you never know. It's like [01:38:50] we're going to have the Middle East [01:38:51] done, which is actually a much harder [01:38:54] thing to do. I mean, thousands of years, [01:38:57] but we have to get that war done. So now [01:39:00] we're, [01:39:01] just think of it, we're a dead country. [01:39:03] I was with the king of Saudi Arabia, [01:39:06] great guy. I was with the Amir of Qatar. [01:39:09] I was with the great leadership of UAE. [01:39:12] I was over there. We brought back uh $2 [01:39:15] trillion dollars [01:39:18] and more. [01:39:20] They ordered 200 planes, Boeings. They [01:39:22] ordered so much and they were great. But [01:39:24] they all said essentially the same [01:39:26] thing. They said, "One year ago, [01:39:30] you were a dead country and now you're [01:39:33] the hottest country anywhere in the [01:39:34] world." We are. We're the hottest [01:39:35] country in the world right now. The [01:39:37] absolute hottest country in the world. [01:39:39] We have There's nobody even close. [01:39:42] Putin said that to me. We met in Alaska. [01:39:45] We had a good meeting. Then he went back [01:39:48] and started sending drones into Kiev. I [01:39:50] said, I thought we had a good meeting. [01:39:53] But it's one of those things. But we [01:39:55] were a dead country [01:39:57] a year ago and now we're the hottest [01:40:00] country anywhere in the world. Think of [01:40:01] that [01:40:05] meeting. But it's one of those things. [01:40:08] But we were a dead country. [01:40:11] a year ago and now we're the hottest [01:40:14] country anywhere in the world. Think of [01:40:15] that. You could be proud of that and you [01:40:18] must have felt like hell when you have a [01:40:20] wife or a husband at home and you used [01:40:23] to read the numbers that we can't get [01:40:25] people to join the army, navy, air [01:40:28] force, marines, coast guard. [01:40:31] Uh you must have felt like, you know, I [01:40:35] have a job that nobody wants. That [01:40:36] doesn't feel good. Well, now you have a [01:40:38] job that is brimming over with people [01:40:41] wanting it. They want it and you're able [01:40:43] to get a much higher quality because now [01:40:46] you have your choice. You know, you want [01:40:47] so many and we're going to have many, [01:40:50] many people that aren't going to be able [01:40:51] to join because of the fact that we [01:40:53] don't, you know, we don't need them at [01:40:55] this moment. But think of it how what a [01:40:58] difference that is from I could just [01:41:00] imagine two years ago you're reading [01:41:02] front page articles in the New York [01:41:05] Times of course and Wall Street Journal. [01:41:08] They always give us unfair stories but [01:41:11] they played it so big. They were playing [01:41:12] it so big. Nobody wants to join the [01:41:14] Army, the Marines, the Air Force. They [01:41:16] want they don't want to join. [01:41:19] They don't want to join the Coast Guard [01:41:20] at all. [01:41:22] Nobody wants to join. Nobody wants to [01:41:24] join our police forces. our police [01:41:26] forces also. It's almost went hand in [01:41:29] hand. [01:41:30] And I used to say, boy, you know, I'm [01:41:32] speaking in front of the military today [01:41:33] and it's embarrassing because I'm [01:41:36] speaking in front of people who have a [01:41:38] job that other people don't want, but [01:41:40] now you have a job that everybody wants. [01:41:42] So, I think that has to make you feel [01:41:44] good. It's one of the reasons I love [01:41:46] being here today because I wanted to say [01:41:47] that I have to say that everybody wants [01:41:50] to be in the army, the Navy, the Air [01:41:53] Force, the Marines. [01:41:55] If you think the Coast Guard and Space [01:41:57] Force, our beautiful Space Force, it's a [01:42:01] whole different world. And now they're [01:42:02] signing up. By the way, seriously big [01:42:04] numbers for the police. Dangerous job, [01:42:07] isn't it? Fire department. But that's [01:42:10] the paving the way for progress. Once [01:42:13] thought almost impossible. I mean, a [01:42:15] year ago, you wouldn't have thought that [01:42:16] was possible. A year ago, uh, they were [01:42:19] talking about making the military [01:42:21] smaller because they can't get the [01:42:23] people to join. We're thinking about [01:42:24] making it larger because we have so many [01:42:27] people and it's nice to be able to cut [01:42:30] people because of merit that aren't [01:42:31] really qualified for [01:42:34] any reason, a physical reason, a mental [01:42:37] reason. [01:42:38] You don't have to take them anymore [01:42:40] because you have you have the pick of [01:42:42] the litter. [01:42:44] And they all want to be with you. They [01:42:45] all want your job. They want to be with [01:42:47] you. They want to work with you. [01:42:49] They'll even take your job. You know, [01:42:52] got to be a little bit sharp. You got to [01:42:53] watch it. But everybody wants to be [01:42:56] doing what you're doing now. What a [01:42:58] difference when I speak to you and I can [01:43:00] say that as opposed to a couple of years [01:43:02] ago when I was talking to rooms where [01:43:04] they were desperate to get people and [01:43:06] they couldn't get them. What a [01:43:08] difference a presidential election can [01:43:11] make. That's all it is. It's just a [01:43:13] presidential election. Yesterday at the [01:43:15] White House, we put forward a plan for [01:43:18] peace in Gaza. We announced it and we're [01:43:20] going to create something that was my [01:43:23] idea, but unfortunately I got drafted. [01:43:26] It's going to be called the Board of [01:43:27] Peace and it's going to rain over that [01:43:31] territory. And uh we're going to get [01:43:34] that done. And they asked if I'd be the [01:43:36] chairman of the Board of Peace. I wasn't [01:43:38] counting on that. I had the idea for the [01:43:39] Board of Peace, but I'd said yes. And I [01:43:42] guess because of that, every leader, [01:43:44] every everybody wants to be on the board [01:43:46] of peace. And we're going to watch over [01:43:48] that very volatile part of the world and [01:43:50] keep it nonvolatile so you don't have to [01:43:53] get involved. We want to save you for [01:43:56] other things or save you for nothing [01:43:58] from that standpoint. We don't want you [01:43:59] fighting wars, but if you have to, [01:44:00] you're going to be you're the most [01:44:02] lethal fighting force in the world. And [01:44:04] I would say that even two, three years [01:44:05] ago, but now I say it with great [01:44:08] enthusiasm. It's so true. And we're [01:44:10] striving tirelessly to end the terrible [01:44:13] war in Ukraine. And as you know, we're [01:44:15] also working hard to get the allies to [01:44:18] share more of the burden of our defense. [01:44:20] Much of that has really already taken [01:44:23] place, but all NATO members have [01:44:25] committed to the increase that I talked [01:44:28] about. Think of that. That was [01:44:29] unthinkable. It used to be 1%, then we [01:44:32] got it up to two in my last term [01:44:35] and uh they did not like it. And now I [01:44:38] got it to five. And I get along great [01:44:40] with all of them. In fact, they call me [01:44:42] the president of NATO. I said, "I don't [01:44:44] think so." But they're great. They're [01:44:47] great people and they're spending a lot [01:44:49] of they're spending a lot of money and a [01:44:52] lot of money that they should have been [01:44:53] spending in the past. But I think Putin [01:44:55] was a wakeup call for them really. We're [01:44:58] now selling large quantities of [01:45:00] Americanmade weapons to NATO and we're [01:45:02] getting uh really fair pricing. We're [01:45:06] making a lot of money. It's my hope that [01:45:08] from Europe to Asia to the Middle East, [01:45:12] our allies will make similar commitments [01:45:14] to increase their military capabilities [01:45:18] and this will greatly strengthen our [01:45:19] alliances and also it will make war far [01:45:23] less likely. You know, if you have a [01:45:25] strong if you're a strong presence like [01:45:27] we are, we are such a strong presence [01:45:28] now. And I go around bragging about [01:45:31] that. I said we have the strongest [01:45:32] military anywhere in the world. I say [01:45:34] it. You never heard Biden say that. [01:45:38] You never heard him say anything, but [01:45:40] you never heard him say, did he ever [01:45:42] hear him say, "We have the strongest [01:45:43] military." He doesn't say that. I say [01:45:45] it. We have the strongest military [01:45:47] anywhere in the world. We have great [01:45:49] leadership. And I'll tell you, Pete and [01:45:52] General Ka, all of the people that I've [01:45:54] met that have been lifted up in rank, [01:45:58] and we got many of them out of here, [01:46:00] too. I'll be honest with you. Didn't [01:46:01] like doing it, but we got many of you [01:46:03] out of here because we weren't [01:46:05] satisfied. We have we know everything [01:46:06] about everybody. It'll also help the [01:46:09] United States rapidly rebuild our [01:46:11] defense industrial base. Each of you can [01:46:14] play an important part in getting allies [01:46:16] to do their part. So to that end, [01:46:19] Secretary Hath will soon be announcing [01:46:21] major reforms to streamline military [01:46:24] acquisitions and expedite foreign [01:46:27] military sales. We have tremendous [01:46:29] numbers of countries that want to buy [01:46:32] our equipment and you know many cases it [01:46:35] takes too long. They have backlogged [01:46:37] we're backlogged on all the equipment [01:46:39] which is something that's new to us a [01:46:41] little bit and I told those companies [01:46:43] you better get your ass going because [01:46:45] we're you know we're buying we're [01:46:47] selling you a lot of equipment. We're [01:46:49] getting countries to buy your equipment. [01:46:51] You got to produce the equipment. Some [01:46:52] of the countries are not going to [01:46:54] mention but some of the countries are [01:46:57] buying a lot and that's a good thing. [01:46:59] They're on our side [01:47:02] 95%. I'll never say 100% because it can [01:47:05] always turn right you know about that. [01:47:07] But they're on our side. The problem is [01:47:10] we have to get the companies that make [01:47:11] this equipment and we we make the best [01:47:13] equipment in the world but they got to [01:47:14] make it faster. [01:47:16] We have orders for the F-35. We have [01:47:19] orders for everything. The new F-47. We [01:47:22] have orders for everything. They got to [01:47:24] make it faster. A lot faster. [01:47:26] Ammunition. They have to make faster. In [01:47:29] the coming months, we'll be making even [01:47:31] more historic announcements to fully [01:47:33] embrace the identity of the Department [01:47:36] of War. I love the name. I think it's so [01:47:38] great. I think it stops wars. The [01:47:41] Department of War is going to stop wars. [01:47:44] If we are as ruthless and relentless as [01:47:47] our enemies, the United States armed [01:47:50] forces will be totally unmatched in the [01:47:53] future. We have a group of enemies that [01:47:55] are very ruthless [01:47:58] and very smart, but they can't match us. [01:48:01] They can't match us. They don't even [01:48:03] come close to matching us. Again, you [01:48:05] know, it's very important for me to say [01:48:06] we have the greatest military in the [01:48:08] world, but we make the best equipment in [01:48:10] the world. [01:48:12] I watched our anti-missile missiles. I [01:48:15] watched our patriots just knock things [01:48:18] out. It's like a needle hitting another [01:48:20] needle on the stage. There's a needle up [01:48:23] there and you send another needle up and [01:48:25] it hits it every time. During the war, [01:48:28] we went 14 for 14. We had 14. This is [01:48:32] where Iran. We had 14 missiles coming at [01:48:34] us. All 14 were knocked out of the sky. [01:48:38] Every one of them. [01:48:40] We make the best equipment. From Sparta [01:48:42] to Rome to the British Empire to the [01:48:45] United States of America. History has [01:48:47] shown that military supremacy has never [01:48:50] been simply a matter of money or [01:48:52] manpower. At the end of the day, it is [01:48:55] the culture spirit of our military that [01:48:58] truly sets us apart from any other [01:49:00] nation. Our ultimate strength will [01:49:03] always come from the fierce people and [01:49:05] those brilliant people with such pride [01:49:08] and the unbending will and the [01:49:10] traditions of excellence that have made [01:49:11] us the most unstoppable force ever to [01:49:15] walk the face of the earth. And that's [01:49:18] what we are. Remember, we never want to [01:49:21] use it, but we have the most powerful [01:49:23] nuclear capability and I call it nuclear [01:49:26] deterrent of any other country. Nobody [01:49:28] close. The men and women in this room [01:49:30] inherit the legacy built and won by [01:49:32] Washington and Jackson, Grant and [01:49:34] Persing, Eisenhower and Patton, Nimmits [01:49:37] and Lame. We carry forward the majestic [01:49:41] military heritage passed down from [01:49:43] father to son, soldier to soldier, and [01:49:46] one generation of warriors to the next. [01:49:49] You are warriors. You know that, right? [01:49:52] You're great warriors [01:49:54] or you wouldn't be in this room. You're [01:49:56] the best of the best. From Concord [01:49:59] Bridge to Fort Mckenry, from Gettysburg [01:50:02] to Manila Bay, from Normandy to Sicily, [01:50:06] and from the jungles of Vietnam to the [01:50:09] dusty streets of Baghdad, [01:50:12] America's military has charged into [01:50:14] hellfire, climbed up jagged mountains, [01:50:18] crossed roaring oceans, and thundered [01:50:20] across open deserts to defend our flag, [01:50:24] our freedom, and our homeland. Nobody [01:50:26] does it like you. Now we are discovering [01:50:30] American muscle, reasserting American [01:50:32] might, and beginning the next story [01:50:34] chapter in American military legends and [01:50:39] lore. That's L O R E. [01:50:44] It is lore. When it comes to defending [01:50:47] our way of life, nothing will slow us. [01:50:50] No enemy will stop us. They're not they [01:50:53] cannot stop us. And no adversary will [01:50:56] stand in our way. They won't stand in [01:50:58] our way. We don't want them to stand in [01:51:00] our way. We don't want to even put them [01:51:02] in that position. But they're not going [01:51:03] to stand in our way ever again. You'll [01:51:06] never see four years like we had with [01:51:09] Biden and that group of incompetent [01:51:12] people that ran this country that should [01:51:14] have never been there because we had the [01:51:16] United States military, the best, the [01:51:18] oldest, the bravest that the world has [01:51:21] ever seen, that the world has ever [01:51:22] known. [01:51:24] With leaders like we have right here in [01:51:27] this beautiful room today, we will [01:51:30] vanquish every danger and crush every [01:51:32] threat to our freedom in every [01:51:34] generation to come because we will [01:51:37] fight, fight, fight and we will win win [01:51:39] win. [01:51:42] I want to just thank you once again and [01:51:43] God bless the United States military and [01:51:46] God bless America. God bless you all. [01:51:48] Thank you very much. Thank you. [01:51:51] [Music]
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