Trump’s ‘warrior culture’ defense secretary

CGTN Europe

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, said he was a “change agent” who would foster a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon, during a testy Senate confirmation hearing that drew an outburst of protest but also veterans supporting the pick.  #PeteHegseth #DonaldTrump

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00:00Officers, enlisted, black and white, young and old, men and women, all Americans, all

00:05warriors, this hearing is for you.

00:09Thank you for figuratively and literally having my back.

00:27As I'll say again, thank you for figuratively and literally having my back.

00:34I pledge to do the same for all of you.

00:42You may proceed.

00:45To bring back war fighting, if confirmed, I'm going to work with President Trump and

00:49this committee to one, restore the warrior ethos to the Pentagon and throughout our fighting

00:55force.

00:56In doing so, we will reestablish trust in our military, addressing the recruiting crisis,

01:01retention crisis, and readiness crisis in our ranks.

01:08Our standards will be high and they will be equal, not equitable.

01:14That's a very different word.

01:17Like many of my generation, I've been there.

01:20I've led troops in combat.

01:21I've been on patrol for days.

01:23I've pulled a trigger downrange, heard bullets whiz by, flex cuffed insurgents, called in

01:28close air support, led medevacs, dodged IEDs, pulled out dead bodies, and knelt before a

01:36battlefield cross.

01:38This is not academic for me.

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