President Donald Trump (R) attempted to raise morale this week as he addressed the Department of War in Quantico, Virginia. In true Trump fashion, the President bounced around from topics like tariffs, the military, ongoing wars, and even President Joe Biden (D).
The President commented on military retention efforts, noting that under President Biden, "we couldn't fill up our Army, Navy." However, under the current administration, he argues that the numbers have grown more robust.
The comments come as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (R) announced that the requirement for all military combat arms jobs will return "to the highest male standards only." President Trump reiterated his support for the standard, saying it will ensure the necessary "fitness, ability, character, and strength" that will ensure that "we will not be politically correct when it comes to defending American freedom."
"We're not going to have somebody taking your place for political reasons," the President assured, highlighting that his administration is prioritizing merit. "We were built on merit," he expressed, referring to the genesis of the country.
He shared that he wants to see the military become the most "lethal and dominant on the planet," affirming that Republicans and the Trump Administration are determined to do everything possible to make sure that military agencies flourish, which he believes is different than the Biden Administration's strategy.
"They did not treat you with respect. They're Democrats. They never do," President Trump accused.
He further criticized President Biden, referring to him as an "autopen." However, he did assess that President Biden signed one thing willingly - Hunter Biden's pardon.
"He signed that one," the President accused, admitting that "the autopen looked much better."
President Trump also highlighted his efforts to stop ongoing wars, noting that his attention is now on the Middle East and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. If he's able to get Hamas to agree to his recently proposed ceasefire plan, he believes he could be a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, but he doesn't believe he would win it.
"They’ll give it to a guy who wrote a book about the mind of Donald Trump," the President joked.
He also praised the tariffs he's imposed, which have been a controversial topic. He noted that the U.S. has made a lot of money from tariffs, and that money could be used to buy things like battleships.
"We should start thinking about battleships," he shared.
