Spin Cycle: While Most Pivot Back To Tariffs, Pete Hegseth Gives Update On Defense Priorities

With the signing of the Big Beautiful Bill in the rearview mirror, most media networks pivoted back to panicking over the tariffs that are set to “boomerang” back to the levels initially set by President Donald Trump’s administration by August 1 — but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took the opportunity to talk about where the Defense Department is headed under his leadership.

For those who don’t spend their Sunday mornings glued to the television — and their Sunday afternoons attempting to dig through a week’s worth of network and cable news media spin — The Daily Wire has compiled a short summary of what you may have missed.

Hegseth spoke with the president’s daughter-in-law on “My View” with Lara Trump, and he addressed the controversy over the recent strike on Iranian nuclear targets — carried out by the United States Air Force — in addition to laying out some of his goals for the military in the coming months.

One of the key points Hegseth brought up was how he saw President Trump giving him free reign to do what was best for American service members.

“I wish everybody could have the opportunity to watch how President Trump operates. How he truly puts America first in EVERY scenario,” Hegseth explained.

. @SecDef joined @LaraLeaTrump

Sec. Hegseth: “I wish everybody could have the opportunity to watch how President Trump operates.

How he truly puts America first in EVERY scenario.” pic.twitter.com/I4lIRXQ1n2

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

As he has in previous statements, Hegseth addressed the military’s physical training standards, promising to deliver on his promise to raise the standards across the board. “We’re trying to set the standard and raise the standard,” Hegseth said, arguing that PT was “one of the most basic things” that the military did — and noted it didn’t matter whether the service members were male or female, their responsibilities would still be the same.

OUR STANDARDS WILL BE HIGH. pic.twitter.com/7NrjZpvsrg

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

Hegseth, a decorated Army National Guard veteran himself, jabbed at previous Defense Secretaries, many of whom were so far removed from the rank and file by the time they’d achieved that position that it often seemed they were out of touch with the troops they’d been charged with leading.

“It wasn’t that long ago I was in their shoes (our military), feeling like someone like the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Army, feeling like they are so detached they can’t understand,” Hegseth said, explaining why he made a point of doing PT with the troops as he traveled from base to base around the world. “I’ve tried to close that gap.”

. @SecDef “It wasn’t that long ago I was in their shoes (our military), feeling like someone like the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of the Army, feeling like they are so detached they can’t understand.

I’ve tried to close that gap.” pic.twitter.com/kqWvjvlfjG

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

Trump got a taste of what service members go through on a regular basis, joining the Defense Secretary in a PT session with the troops as well.

. @LaraLeaTrump joined America’s @SecDef for PT pic.twitter.com/QbfLT1tuIa

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

Hegseth took some of the time to talk about the recent strikes on Iran, saying that the overall success of Operation Midnight Hammer had shown “the skill and capabilities of the United States Military.”

“The rest of the world paid attention too,” he said. “Other countries noticed what America can do.”

. @LaraLeaTrump “Walk us through what you can of this mission (Operation Midnight Hammer) and why it was so significant.”@SecDef “It shows you the skill and capabilities of the United States Military…

The rest of the world paid attention to. Other countries noticed what… pic.twitter.com/f4n8Il1Aj6

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

Trump asked Hegseth about the legacy media reports that had undercut the mission’s success, citing Iranian sources that had claimed the nuclear targets had not actually been destroyed.

“They are so deranged by President Trump (the fake news) they HAVE TO FIND A WAY to undermine him,” he said.

. @SecDef on the legacy media reporting of Operation Midnight:

“They are so deranged by President Trump (the fake news) they HAVE TO FIND A WAY to undermine him.” pic.twitter.com/BhLC3vr3E5

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

The overall message that Hegseth wanted to share was simple: President Donald Trump had American service members top of mind when he made decisions about what the military was going to do or how certain actions would be carried out.

“Watching President Trump make those decisions reveals again the core that everybody knows and loves about him. Which is that he puts America and Americans FIRST,” he said.

Our warfighters can sleep at night knowing that their commander-in-chief has their back.

. @SecDef “Watching President Trump make those decisions reveals again the core that everybody knows and loves about him.

Which is that he puts America and Americans FIRST.” pic.twitter.com/c9NRjyMTfh

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025

As for his goals for the remainder of President Trump’s second term in office, Hegseth made it clear that he was keeping things simple: his plan, he told Trump, was to “keep going.”

“Driving change into institutions is a difficult thing to do,” he said, but noted that the military — across all branches — was already seeing a positive response to the changes in record-setting recruitment numbers. “There’s still resistance to change in certain places … Washington, D.C., can be very good at paying too much and taking too long. And if you have a businessman — which we do, as commander in chief — he has an expectation that we get it under cost and faster. So there’s a ton of work left to be done.”

. @LaraLeaTrump “What are your goals going forward over the next three and a half years?”@SecDef “KEEP GOING.” pic.twitter.com/5vOvxooTtz

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) July 6, 2025