Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth arrived for his first day on the Pentagon on Monday with a message relating to the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) mission.
Greeted by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and a gaggle of reporters, Hegseth mentioned it was “an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the nation,” including, “The warfighters are able to go.”
Hegseth shortly turned to the border disaster, acknowledging how President Donald Trump was “hitting the bottom working” with govt orders declaring an emergency on the southern border and designating cartels international terrorist organizations. Hegseth mentioned the DOD “snapped to” final week in sending extra troops to help in erecting limitations alongside the southern border, in addition to to “guarantee mass deportations,” including: “That’s one thing the Protection Division completely will proceed to do.”
“He is made it very clear. There may be an emergency on the border,” Hegseth mentioned. “The safety of the sovereign territory of america is the job of the Protection Division.”
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Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives on the Pentagon on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Picture/Kevin Wolf)
Final week, the Protection Division introduced 1,500 active-duty service members and “extra air and intelligence belongings” had been being sent to the southern border “to reinforce troops already conducting enforcement operations in that area.”
When requested if extra troops could be deployed to the border now that he’s taking the helm, Hegseth mentioned, “No matter is required on the border can be supplied. Whether or not that’s via state energetic responsibility, Title 32 or Title 10, as a result of we’re reorienting.”
“It is a shift. This isn’t the way in which issues have been finished previously,” Hegseth mentioned. “The Protection Division will assist the protection of the territorial integrity of america on the southern border to incorporate reservists, Nationwide Guard and energetic responsibility with compliance with the Structure, the legal guidelines of our land, and the directives of the commander in chief.”
Hegseth, a combat veteran who deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq and Afghanistan, mentioned he anticipated extra govt orders from the White Home later Monday. These would come with orders to take away range, fairness and inclusion contained in the Pentagon, reinstate troops who had been “pushed out” over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and to implement the development of an “Iron Dome for America,” Hegseth instructed reporters, vowing to adjust to Trump’s directives “quickly and shortly.”
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, heart proper, talks to members of the press after arriving on the Pentagon on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Picture/Kevin Wolf)
“Each second I’m right here I’m desirous about the blokes and gals in Guam, in Germany, in Fort Benning, in Fort Bragg, on missile protection websites and plane carriers,” Hegseth mentioned. “Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting.”
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“We maintain folks accountable. I do know the chairman agrees with that,” Hegseth, who most lately was a Fox Information host earlier than Trump nominated him to guide the Protection Division, continued. “The lawful orders of the President of america can be executed on this Protection Division swiftly and with out excuse. We can be no higher buddy to our allies and no stronger adversary for many who wish to take a look at us and check out us.”
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, proper, pats Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. on his shoulder as he solutions questions from reporters after arriving on the Pentagon on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Picture/Kevin Wolf)
When requested a few wristband he was carrying, Hegseth mentioned he wore it each day to recollect Jorge Oliveira, a soldier he served with in Guantánamo Bay when he was a platoon chief. Oliveira was later killed in Afghanistan whereas Hegseth was there in a separate unit.
“It is these guys that we do that for. Those that have given the final word sacrifice,” Hegseth mentioned.
The secretary was additionally requested about help for Afghans who labored with the U.S. authorities. Final week, Trump issued an govt order pausing all U.S. international improvement help for 90 days pending an evaluation into whether or not the funds align together with his administration’s international coverage. Reuters reported that flights for roughly 40,000 Afghans who had been permitted for particular visas following former President Joe Biden’s botched withdrawal have been suspended in consequence.
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“We’re going to ensure there’s accountability for what occurred in Afghanistan, and we stand by our allies,” Hegseth mentioned.
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