Editorial: Trump, Hegseth wage war on woke

Boston Herald, Boston Herald on Oct 2, 2025

Published in Op Eds

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President Donald Trump’s message to the military and the world is singular: Don’t mess with America!

The president infused the military with pride and purpose on Tuesday as he and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced “woke” ways are over. But his message was also directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran, North Korea, Hamas, Venezuela, China, and anyone else testing his resolve.

“I have your backs 100%,” Trump said to the military brass assembled for the unprecedented forum in Quantico, Va.

The gloom and doom predictions of the left with their shorts in a bunch about the gathering were dispelled immediately when the Pentagon broadcast first Hegseth, then the president, addressing the generals and admirals. It’s proof that the left cannot come to grips with the fact that taxpayers are fed up with the bull.

Trump stressed that “merit” is the metric that now counts in the military and should elsewhere. It’s the “opposite of political correctness.”

We need to “solve wars instead of having to fight wars,” he said.

Again, the exact opposite of what pundits were predicting. It’s a simple equation: Deterrence through strength.

The president announced $1 trillion would be spent on the military in 2026, and soldiers and sailors would receive a 3.8% raise. There was more: He’s investing in a “Golden Dome” to protect the U.S., building 19 more ships for the Navy and launching a “sixth-generation” fighter jet — the F47.

That should curl Kamala Harris’ hair.

The military, both men said, will have a focus on fitness and ability, and “defending the homeland” will be a priority.

His message about avoiding war should be hailed today: “Count on people like me to keep you out of wars,” Trump said, adding if the military is called upon, he won’t hesitate.

He praised the gathering as straight out of “central casting.” That’s not a commander-in-chief belittling his generals, as some predicted he would. It’s the exact opposite.

Trump said he is laser-focused on “putting America first.”

That should be every government worker’s goal.

“It’s amazing what strength can do,” he said late in his address, telling the brass the military is “the knife’s edge.”

The president added, “The purpose of America’s military is not to protect anyone’s feelings. It’s to protect our republic. … We will not be politically correct when it comes to defending American freedom. And we will be a fighting and winning machine.”

Be prepared for the spin as Trump’s and Hegseth’s words are parsed. That’s to be expected.

But in our Nuclear Age, this is exactly what America needs today, with wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and tensions all over the world. NATO needs to step up, Canada, too. But the U.S. under President Trump will remain the guardian of the world.

The haters — and that includes the Associated Press and other outlets that refuse to listen to this administration before writing — need to tap the brakes. We are on the razor’s edge and leadership is needed at this juncture in our history.

That’s exactly what President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered. It was televised for all to see. Your military will now be trained to fight.