Pete Hegseth
๐ค SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
We're back with more DOD reforms. This one is general and flag officer reductions. That's the official title. My title is less generals, more GIs. It's a historic one, and it's in keeping with President Trump's commitment to achieving peace through strength. We're going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters. Let's take a bit of a trip down memory lane.
We're back with more DOD reforms. This one is general and flag officer reductions. That's the official title. My title is less generals, more GIs. It's a historic one, and it's in keeping with President Trump's commitment to achieving peace through strength. We're going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters. Let's take a bit of a trip down memory lane.
In history, when we were fighting across the globe during World War II, we had a force that was 12 million strong. For that 12 million man element, we had 17 four and five star generals. Today, we have 2.1 million service members with 44 four star and flag officers. So it used to be a ratio of one general to 6,000 troops. Today, it's one general to 1,400.
In history, when we were fighting across the globe during World War II, we had a force that was 12 million strong. For that 12 million man element, we had 17 four and five star generals. Today, we have 2.1 million service members with 44 four star and flag officers. So it used to be a ratio of one general to 6,000 troops. Today, it's one general to 1,400.
In history, when we were fighting across the globe during World War II, we had a force that was 12 million strong. For that 12 million man element, we had 17 four and five star generals. Today, we have 2.1 million service members with 44 four star and flag officers. So it used to be a ratio of one general to 6,000 troops. Today, it's one general to 1,400.
More generals and admirals does not equal more success. Now, this is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers. Nothing could be further from the truth. This has been a deliberative process, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with one goal, maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions in the general and flag officer ranks.
More generals and admirals does not equal more success. Now, this is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers. Nothing could be further from the truth. This has been a deliberative process, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with one goal, maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions in the general and flag officer ranks.
More generals and admirals does not equal more success. Now, this is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers. Nothing could be further from the truth. This has been a deliberative process, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with one goal, maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions in the general and flag officer ranks.
When President Trump asked me to take this job, he told me, well, one key thing, but really two. The first was, Pete, you're going to have to be tough as shit. They're going to come after you. Boy, he was not kidding about that one. This job requires a steel spine and that's fine. My job's easy compared to what you do.
When President Trump asked me to take this job, he told me, well, one key thing, but really two. The first was, Pete, you're going to have to be tough as shit. They're going to come after you. Boy, he was not kidding about that one. This job requires a steel spine and that's fine. My job's easy compared to what you do.
When President Trump asked me to take this job, he told me, well, one key thing, but really two. The first was, Pete, you're going to have to be tough as shit. They're going to come after you. Boy, he was not kidding about that one. This job requires a steel spine and that's fine. My job's easy compared to what you do.
We're doing the work on behalf of the American people and the American war fighter. But then the president, after he said that, went on to say, I need you and I want you to restore the warrior ethos in our military full stop. And that's been my first priority since day one. We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more
We're doing the work on behalf of the American people and the American war fighter. But then the president, after he said that, went on to say, I need you and I want you to restore the warrior ethos in our military full stop. And that's been my first priority since day one. We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more
We're doing the work on behalf of the American people and the American war fighter. But then the president, after he said that, went on to say, I need you and I want you to restore the warrior ethos in our military full stop. And that's been my first priority since day one. We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more
Emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses. We're done with that shit. We're focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.
Emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses. We're done with that shit. We're focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.
Emergency vaccine mandates, no more dudes in dresses. We're done with that shit. We're focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.
Pete Hegseth would be a little like Packer.
Pete Hegseth would be a little like Packer.
Pete Hegseth would be a little like Packer.