Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
The secretary told those building the Department of War's arsenal that American troops would not be able to do what's required of them "in far-flung places, in dangerous moments, in the dead of night without the capabilities that you will underwrite for them."
"So, this Arsenal of Freedom is built not just with men and women in camouflage. But it's in folks in civilian clothes all across the country. Who are also putting in the work 24/7, to out-compete, out-innovate and out-manufacture our opponents," Hegseth declared.
Hegseth's speech is set to begin around 2:50 p.m. ET, according to a Reagan National Defense Forum schedule. He will be joined at the event by other leaders from the U.S. military.
"We are rebuilding the Arsenal of Freedom," Hegseth wrote on X alongside the video.
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War Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a news conference at the Pentagon on June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Virginia. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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"Their mission is to review and assess policies that strengthen America's national defense in the context of the global threat environment," it added.
Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-highlight-rebuilding-arsenal-freedom-speech-reagan-national-defense-forum