5 highlights from Pete Hegseth's speech to military leaders: Done with 'woke garbage'

4. ‘Today is another Liberation Day’ 

Summarizing his speech, Hegseth declared, “Today is another Liberation Day” — a term also used by President Donald Trump to describe his administration’s new trade policy.

He added that his address was to commemorate “the liberation of America’s warriors in name, in deed and in authorities.” 

“You kill people and break things for a living. You are not politically correct and don’t necessarily belong always in polite society. We are not an army of one,” he added. “We are a joint force of millions of selfless Americans. We are warriors. We are purpose-built, not for fair weather, blue skies or calm seas. We were built to load up in the back of helicopters, five tons or Zodiacs in the dead of night, in fair weather or foul, to go to dangerous places, to find those who would do our nation harm.” 

Hegseth added that, following “Liberation Day,” there would be “no more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement,” but rather “common sense, maximum lethality and authority for war fighters.” He identified the underlying philosophy of the Department of War as to “unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy” and to “untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country.”

“Lethality is our calling card and victory our only acceptable end state,” he said.