The Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, delivered what is known as the "State of the Force" on Wednesday afternoon, a speech that the head of the Pentagon gives annually before hundreds of troops and generals.
Approximately 600 active service members of various ranks attended Wednesday's event. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke briefly and then introduced Hegseth, who was met with a thunderous ovation from the troops.
"A year ago today, I stood right here, on this very stage, and addressed generals, admirals, and sergeants major," Hegseth said about his address from last year. "Now, the hyperventilated press thought it might be an impromptu physical fitness test. Instead, the speech was a declaration of independence for the Department of War, marking a definitive break from the old Department of Defense," he stated.
"We are no longer the 'woke' department or the weak department," the head of the Pentagon declared, waging war on DEI policies. "Simple translation of that: no weirdos, no weaklings, no radicals. Just warriors, just tough troops, ready and committed," he emphasized.
Historic speech by Hegseth at the Pentagon: war on woke, the creation of an autonomous combat command, and bases with nuclear energy
Hegseth added: "Our self-proclaimed press makes Iranian state media look reasonable. The shameful cuts from our media for political retribution blind them to the consequences of reckless reporting. The self-proclaimed journalists inflated with Trump syndrome believe they are fighting against our president, but in reality, they are undermining you, our fighters."
Then, the senior official of the Trump administration announced the creation of the Autonomous Warfare Command, which will begin operating as a four-star combat command starting next October. With this measure, the department aims to synchronize its strategy for the development and mass production of drones, various types of larger autonomous systems, and the use of artificial intelligence.
Hegseth also shared details about a plan called FORTRESS America, which aims for military bases to be able to independently self-supply energy so that an adversary cannot take down civil infrastructure and paralyze military plans.
Historic speech by Hegseth at the Pentagon: war on woke, the creation of an autonomous combat command, and bases with nuclear energy
In fact, last month the Army announced that it will install advanced nuclear reactors at five bases over the next few years, intending to build another 20 microreactors at different facilities.
Additionally, for the first time in over four decades, Hegseth revealed that the Trump administration is considering building a national military base that would host between 15,000 and 25,000 U.S. troops, and called on governors to apply to host it.
"If your state wants the honor of hosting between 15,000 and 25,000 of America's great troops, show us why and how you will do it. By cutting bureaucracy, offering the land, and rolling out the red carpet for our military families," he expressed.
