Hegseth on What Freedom Demands [WATCH]

Pete Hegseth argued that preserving American freedom requires more than declarations of principle, saying the country’s survival ultimately depends on men and women willing to defend those principles through force when necessary.

Hegseth drew a distinction between the ideals associated with 1776 and the armed resistance that came before the Declaration of Independence.

“I always say, and it’s an important reminder: you are not in the 1776 business,” Hegseth said.

He said service members are defending the spirit of 1776, but their role is rooted more directly in the willingness to act that defined 1775.

Gold. Upgraded. Buy real gold from $1. Store it in America. Sell it with one click.

“We’re defending the spirit of 1776 and the Declaration of Independence. You, men and women, are in the 1775 business because there were men and women on those bridges in Lexington and Concord who stood up with a rifle, and said, “If we want to be free, we’re going to have to defend it. We’re going to have to fight for it,” Hegseth said.

His point was that political ideals are meaningless if a nation lacks the ability and willingness to protect them.

“You can declare anything you want, but if you don’t have the ability to defend it, to project power, and to stand up against tyranny, or in that case, raise your right hand and say, ‘Send me to fight the redcoats. You don’t have a republic,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth used the Revolutionary War as the beginning of what he described as a long American tradition of citizens volunteering to confront threats to the country.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“You see, since then we’ve had young Americans that said, “Send me to fight the redcoats. Send me to fight the communists. Send me to fight the Nazis. Send me to fight the Islamists,” Hegseth said.

The sequence was meant to show continuity between the earliest generation of Americans who fought British forces and later generations who served against ideological and military enemies across different eras.

Hegseth’s argument centered on the idea that the republic has always depended on Americans willing to put themselves in danger on behalf of the country.

He said future threats will require the same kind of commitment, regardless of what form those threats take.

“And whatever threats of the future, it’s going to require Americans like you to raise your right hand and say, ‘Send me. I will take the fight to the enemy, because I have that perspective and understand that it must be defended,” Hegseth said.

WATCH:

His message was directed at military personnel and focused on the obligations that come with defending a free society.

Rather than treating liberty as something permanently secured by past generations, Hegseth described it as something that must be defended repeatedly by those willing to serve.

He emphasized that the Declaration of Independence represented the principles of the new nation, but argued that those principles could only survive because Americans had already demonstrated a willingness to fight.

By invoking Lexington and Concord, Hegseth framed military service as a continuation of the same responsibility carried by Americans before independence was formally declared.

The broader argument was that military strength and personal sacrifice are necessary foundations of political freedom.

Hegseth said the United States can articulate its values, defend constitutional principles, and speak about liberty, but none of those things can endure without people prepared to confront enemies directly.

For Hegseth, the difference between having ideals and preserving a republic comes down to whether Americans are willing to defend the country when it is threatened.

His remarks ultimately presented military service not simply as a profession, but as part of a historical chain stretching from the American Revolution to the present day and into whatever conflicts may come next.

Gold is the oldest answer. SoundMoney makes owning it as easy as the apps you already use.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.