The Department of Defense released a new ad stating “no more distractions” during Memorial Day weekend, featuring remarks from President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth.
In stark contrast to the widely ridiculed Biden-era ads—one of which highlighted a lesbian couple’s wedding—the new ad puts a spotlight on U.S. service members in intense training and live-combat scenarios. Backed by dramatic music and commanding narration from Trump and Hegseth, the ad marks a clear shift toward toughness, discipline, and military readiness.
“No more distraction, no more electric tanks, no more gender confusion, no more climate change worship. We are laser-focused on our mission of warfighting,” Hegseth says.
“We don’t fight because we hate what’s in front of us,” the defense secretary noted further. “We fight because we love what’s behind us.”
“Through our power and might, we will lead the world to peace,” Trump says. “Our friends will respect us. Our enemies will fear us, and the whole world will admire the unrivaled greatness of the United States military.
The commander-in-chief adds: “We will replenish the pride of our armed forces, end the recruitment crisis.” Trump then notes that U.S. military success will be measured “not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end.”
Titled “Peace Through Strength,” the ad premiered during Saturday’s NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 and was immediately rolled out across all official Pentagon social media platforms. A Defense Department spokesperson told the New York Post that the spot was created using previously recorded footage.
WATCH:
During President Biden’s tenure, U.S. military recruitment for nearly all the branches fell short year after year. The shortages followed the former administration’s focus on hyper-woke ideology, including transgender and LGBTQ themes woven throughout recruiting materials — almost as if Biden and his civilian military chiefs were trying to weaken the force.
Last month, Hegseth ordered a comprehensive review of the armed forces’ equal opportunity programs, according to a report.
He signed a memorandum titled “Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability,” which is “a little wordy but over the target,” he admitted. The directive requires each military service to submit the status of its equal opportunity initiatives up the chain of command within 45 days, the Washington Times reported.
Hegseth affirmed the importance of systems that allow service members and civilian Defense Department employees to report discrimination and harassment. However, he warned that in today’s cancel-culture climate, some equal opportunity complaints are being “weaponized.”
“Some individuals use these programs in bad faith to retaliate against superiors or peers,” he said Friday in a video message posted to X. “Too often, at the Defense Department, there are complaints made for certain reasons that can’t be verified that end people’s careers.”
Protecting equal opportunity programs and processes is essential for advancing meritocracy and ensuring accountability within the military, stated Jules W. Hurst, the acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
“Our personnel deserve fair treatment and a positive work environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment,” said Hurst Friday in a statement. “They also deserve qualified leaders who are empowered to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline through balanced accountability.”
Hurst said the services will propose potential reforms to their equal opportunity programs and submit plans to his office outlining how they will streamline processes, address “problematic” behaviors, and minimize any undue impact on the mission.