It was a radical Islamist attack in uniform inside the ranks, and so he’s going to get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be, and we’ll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand…
Pete Hegseth
The Public Record
U.S. Secretary of Defense in the Trump administration; Army National Guard veteran and former Fox News host.
★ Featured Quote
October 16, 2026
On hypersonics, they took a nap. On space, they took a nap. On weaponization of space, they took a nap. On drones, they took a nap.
— Pete Hegseth
Most widely reported
by number of sources- That’s why we haven’t been trying to remake Iranian society, but simply in the realist America First way, ensure they never have a path to a nuclear bomb, full stop.15 sources2026dailymontanan.com
- President Trump said we’re not fighting stupid wars like that again and he hasn’t.12 sources2026dailymontanan.com
- We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public — because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things.5 sources2026cbsnews.com
- We are no longer the woke department or the weak department. No fatties, no trainees, no weirdos, no beardos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors.4 sources2026foxnews.com
- Without extra money from Congress, the department would face critical shortfalls that threaten our ability to pay our service members, rapidly replenish equipment and munitions, and sustain vital operations without disruption.3 sources2026iowacapitaldispatch.com
- Our department is, you might say, putting on the full armor of God, because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual.3 sources2026abcnews.com
Execution by firing squad. Army major betrays his country, radical Islamist, kills a bunch of Americans at Fort Hood ― of course we’re going to do it at Fort Hood.
We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public — because people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things.
He's gonna get a firing squad of soldiers, as it should be," Hegseth told Jack Posobiec on Real America's Voice.
The outside world can’t understand this, so stay true to this department. You don’t want to look like civilians, because you are different, you are set apart. You are warriors.
You feel comfortable inside the violence. … Lethality is your calling card and victory your only acceptable end-state.