WEBVTT 00:06.719 --> 00:10.010 Good evening everybody , um . Just a 00:10.010 --> 00:11.954 great day . Any day you're forward 00:11.954 --> 00:14.689 deployed with the troops as the 00:14.689 --> 00:17.860 Secretary of Defense is a good day . Uh , 00:17.940 --> 00:20.107 and what we got to see here , starting 00:20.107 --> 00:22.959 with PT with Navy SEALs in the morning , 00:23.010 --> 00:25.649 which is turned into smoke desectF more 00:25.649 --> 00:27.969 than it has PT , uh , the opportunity 00:27.969 --> 00:30.247 to see what the Marines are doing here , 00:30.247 --> 00:32.413 incredible stuff , training , training 00:32.413 --> 00:34.636 space jungle school for the Army , uh , 00:34.636 --> 00:34.529 with the Air Force capabilities , space 00:34.529 --> 00:37.069 force capabilities , naval lift . Uh , 00:37.150 --> 00:39.372 it's all here and it's all a reflection 00:39.372 --> 00:41.094 of America's commitment to the 00:41.094 --> 00:43.659 Indo-Pacific and the Trump 00:43.659 --> 00:46.150 administration's focus . On ensuring 00:46.150 --> 00:48.317 that we are doing everything we can to 00:48.317 --> 00:50.206 deter conflict with the communist 00:50.206 --> 00:52.428 Chinese who we don't seek conflict with 00:52.428 --> 00:54.483 at all , but we will stand strong in 00:54.483 --> 00:56.900 deterrence and we'll posture troops 00:57.020 --> 00:59.319 forward . That's why we're going out to 00:59.319 --> 01:01.669 Guam to see our friends in Japan and 01:01.669 --> 01:03.590 the Philippines . We're posturing 01:03.590 --> 01:05.629 forward , talking and meeting with 01:05.629 --> 01:07.851 commanders who have the capabilities to 01:07.851 --> 01:10.073 understand the AOR , talking to friends 01:10.073 --> 01:13.069 and allies . And that doesn't get any 01:13.069 --> 01:15.291 better than watching troops in action , 01:15.291 --> 01:18.180 which is a humbling and an honor for me . 01:18.669 --> 01:20.836 So it's been a great day here , and we 01:20.836 --> 01:23.058 look forward to many more ahead on this 01:23.058 --> 01:25.169 trip as we institute and sort of live 01:25.169 --> 01:27.680 out , try to showcase the pivot . That 01:27.680 --> 01:29.791 President Trump is putting toward the 01:29.791 --> 01:31.624 Indo-Pacific , making sure we're 01:31.624 --> 01:33.569 properly focusing and prioritizing 01:33.569 --> 01:36.279 where we should on peer adversaries to 01:36.279 --> 01:38.720 stand strong and reflect deterrents 01:38.720 --> 01:41.080 reestablishing deterrence is part of 01:41.080 --> 01:44.489 what President Trump has . Commanded me 01:44.489 --> 01:46.378 compelled me to do in addition to 01:46.378 --> 01:48.370 restoring the warrior ethos and 01:48.370 --> 01:51.069 rebuilding our military , uh , and 01:51.069 --> 01:53.291 reestablishing deterrence is a big part 01:53.291 --> 01:55.458 of why we're here . Uh , happy to take 01:55.458 --> 01:57.736 a couple of questions . Mr . Secretary , 01:57.736 --> 01:59.902 uh , thanks . First of all , thanks so 01:59.902 --> 02:02.013 much for having me on the trip . That 02:02.013 --> 02:04.180 that helicopter ride was awesome . I'm 02:04.180 --> 02:04.000 sure my colleagues feel the same way . 02:04.120 --> 02:06.769 Um , my questions on Taiwan . Uh , you 02:06.769 --> 02:09.020 mentioned deterrence . Uh , Admiral 02:09.020 --> 02:11.279 Paparo in his speeches has said that 02:11.279 --> 02:13.720 the exercise . Around Taiwan are not 02:13.720 --> 02:16.279 just exercises but rehearsals for an 02:16.279 --> 02:18.759 attack . How concerned are you about 02:18.759 --> 02:22.520 China's ability and intent to try and 02:22.520 --> 02:24.520 retake the island by force ? Well , 02:24.520 --> 02:26.298 Admiral Paparo has said China's 02:26.298 --> 02:28.800 rehearsals could potentially be a 02:28.800 --> 02:30.559 rehearsal for an attack . The 02:30.559 --> 02:32.559 rehearsals , the exercises , the 02:32.559 --> 02:34.726 campaigns were doing in and around the 02:34.726 --> 02:36.892 first island chain are not meant to be 02:36.892 --> 02:39.179 the precursor to an attack . We're here 02:39.179 --> 02:41.346 to deter . We're here to show strength 02:41.449 --> 02:44.210 with our allies , and that includes 02:45.089 --> 02:47.089 ensuring that in every possible way 02:47.089 --> 02:49.256 American forces projected forward . So 02:49.256 --> 02:51.533 we don't want to see a conflict at all . 02:51.533 --> 02:53.200 Uh , and that's certainly the 02:53.200 --> 02:55.200 president's perspective , but we're 02:55.200 --> 02:57.033 going to be postured forward and 02:57.033 --> 02:59.256 leaning forward as much as necessary to 02:59.256 --> 03:01.478 ensure that doesn't happen . And just a 03:01.478 --> 03:03.533 quick follow up , um , on the , uh , 03:03.533 --> 03:05.700 counter diversity equity inclusions of 03:05.700 --> 03:07.867 what's your assessment now 3 months in 03:07.867 --> 03:09.756 and trying to undo a lot of those 03:09.756 --> 03:11.756 programs . My assessment is the DOD 03:11.756 --> 03:14.009 will be merit based and color blind . 03:14.679 --> 03:16.735 You will be judged based on how good 03:16.735 --> 03:19.029 you are at your job , full stop . 03:19.220 --> 03:21.109 That's it . And so getting rid of 03:21.109 --> 03:23.080 diversity equity inclusion , DEI , 03:23.380 --> 03:25.770 getting rid of different standards , uh , 03:25.779 --> 03:27.860 was fundamental to getting back to 03:27.860 --> 03:30.082 basics and that's what I , when I get a 03:30.082 --> 03:32.082 chance to talk to commanders here , 03:32.082 --> 03:31.660 that's what I emphasize we're getting 03:31.660 --> 03:35.160 back to basics standards . Uh , at 03:35.160 --> 03:37.669 every level need to be adhered to , uh , 03:37.759 --> 03:40.240 and that's at a baseline and when you 03:40.240 --> 03:42.518 talk to soldiers , you talk to marines , 03:42.518 --> 03:44.518 they get it , they get it , they've 03:44.518 --> 03:46.407 seen the standard slide under the 03:46.407 --> 03:48.684 previous administration . They watched , 03:48.684 --> 03:50.851 you know , in , in many different ways 03:50.851 --> 03:53.018 how it eroded or quotas were being met 03:53.018 --> 03:55.073 or different aspects had to be boxes 03:55.073 --> 03:57.184 had to be checked , not anymore . The 03:57.184 --> 03:59.129 only box that gets checked in this 03:59.129 --> 04:01.129 defense department is lethality and 04:01.129 --> 04:03.073 your ability to do your job . Mr . 04:04.039 --> 04:05.983 Secretary , the messages the White 04:05.983 --> 04:08.660 House called authentic did at the very 04:08.660 --> 04:10.869 least include sensitive details about 04:10.869 --> 04:13.589 targets and timing . Did you declassify 04:13.589 --> 04:15.700 that information before you put it in 04:15.700 --> 04:17.867 the chat , and are you using signal to 04:17.867 --> 04:20.109 discuss operations as sensitive as the 04:20.109 --> 04:21.942 strikes against the Houthis on a 04:21.942 --> 04:24.220 government or a personal phone ? First , 04:24.220 --> 04:26.910 all I would say is , uh , the strikes 04:26.910 --> 04:29.709 against the Houthis that night were 04:29.709 --> 04:31.619 devastatingly effective . And I'm 04:31.619 --> 04:33.619 incredibly proud of the courage and 04:33.619 --> 04:35.563 skill of the troops , and they are 04:35.563 --> 04:37.179 ongoing and continue to be 04:37.660 --> 04:39.604 devastatingly effective . The last 04:39.604 --> 04:41.827 place I would want to be right now is a 04:41.827 --> 04:44.339 Houthi in Yemen who wants to disrupt 04:44.339 --> 04:46.395 freedom of navigation . So the skill 04:46.395 --> 04:48.450 and courage of our troops is on full 04:48.450 --> 04:50.600 display . It's a complete opposite 04:50.600 --> 04:52.920 approach from the fecklessness of the 04:52.920 --> 04:55.087 Biden administration . President Trump 04:55.087 --> 04:58.369 said peace through strength will be 04:58.369 --> 05:00.649 brought back . Freedom of navigation 05:00.649 --> 05:03.200 will return , and that's exactly what 05:03.200 --> 05:05.510 we're doing . As I also stated 05:05.829 --> 05:08.820 yesterday , nobody's texting war plans , 05:08.829 --> 05:10.773 and that's all I have to say about 05:10.773 --> 05:13.260 those troops troops that you are proud 05:13.260 --> 05:16.269 of , do you regret putting information 05:16.269 --> 05:18.470 like the ones you did in the signal 05:18.470 --> 05:20.750 chat that could endanger those same 05:20.750 --> 05:22.750 American service members ? Nobody's 05:22.750 --> 05:25.230 texting more plants . I know exactly 05:25.230 --> 05:27.119 what I'm doing exactly what we're 05:27.119 --> 05:29.230 directing . Uh , and I'm really proud 05:29.230 --> 05:30.897 of what we accomplished , the 05:30.897 --> 05:32.841 successful missions that night and 05:32.841 --> 05:34.452 going forward . So you had a 05:34.452 --> 05:36.890 conversation with , uh , seniors in the 05:36.890 --> 05:40.769 Pean . So how do you , uh , you had a 05:40.769 --> 05:42.880 conversation with senior officials or 05:42.880 --> 05:45.690 in the Pecan today and yesterday , and 05:45.690 --> 05:47.801 how do you evaluate the importance of 05:47.801 --> 05:50.769 Indo pecan ? Indo is important , and 05:50.769 --> 05:53.047 Admiral Paparo is a a fighting admiral . 05:53.049 --> 05:55.105 He's a really smart guy . Uh , who's 05:55.105 --> 05:57.216 exactly where we need them at the tip 05:57.216 --> 05:59.160 of the spear . Uh , Indo Paycom is 05:59.339 --> 06:01.506 where we need to be , where we need to 06:01.506 --> 06:03.672 be focusing . What you , what you will 06:03.672 --> 06:05.672 see in the interim national defense 06:05.672 --> 06:07.895 strategy from the DOD will focus , make 06:07.895 --> 06:09.895 sure we're defending the homeland . 06:09.895 --> 06:12.006 Including the homeland Oconus here in 06:12.006 --> 06:14.228 Hawaii , uh , and that were postured to 06:14.228 --> 06:16.228 focus on the Indo Pacific , so it's 06:16.228 --> 06:18.450 critically important . One more , yes , 06:18.450 --> 06:18.260 thank you , sir . Uh , earlier today at 06:18.260 --> 06:20.420 the POW MIA accounting agency , uh , 06:20.500 --> 06:22.667 you were taking a tour of the building 06:22.667 --> 06:24.889 and you were shown a wall of a Medal of 06:24.889 --> 06:26.889 Honor recipients whose remains have 06:26.889 --> 06:26.220 been recovered over the years . I'm 06:26.220 --> 06:28.498 sure it was a very humbling experience . 06:28.498 --> 06:30.387 By sheer chance , one of those uh 06:30.387 --> 06:32.609 recipients was pointed out to you was a 06:32.609 --> 06:34.664 Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman Jr . a 06:34.664 --> 06:36.887 Marine , uh , who passed away some time 06:36.887 --> 06:39.220 ago , fought in World War 2 , I believe . 06:39.220 --> 06:39.000 Um , you said , wait a minute , I know 06:39.000 --> 06:41.480 who that is . And it turns out that by 06:41.480 --> 06:43.880 just pure happenstance , you . 06:44.809 --> 06:46.865 Obviously I went to Princeton and he 06:46.865 --> 06:49.087 also went to Princeton and you remember 06:49.087 --> 06:50.976 studying him back when you were a 06:50.976 --> 06:50.950 student there . You tell me what that 06:50.950 --> 06:53.172 was like and what a cool story . It's a 06:53.172 --> 06:55.450 cool story . So we were at the defense , 06:55.450 --> 06:57.617 uh , prisoner of war missing in action 06:57.617 --> 06:59.728 agency where they still commit to the 06:59.728 --> 07:01.783 legacy of those that we have lost on 07:01.783 --> 07:03.950 the battlefield , bringing them home , 07:03.950 --> 07:06.006 identifying the remains , and making 07:06.006 --> 07:08.117 sure the families have that closure . 07:08.117 --> 07:08.049 We leave nobody behind . I was looking 07:08.049 --> 07:10.049 at the wall and this one particular 07:10.049 --> 07:12.160 unit , there was a lieutenant who's a 07:12.160 --> 07:14.382 recipient of the Medal of Honor . And I 07:14.382 --> 07:14.230 looked up and it said Lieutenant 07:14.230 --> 07:16.341 Bonnyman , and I just thought , where 07:16.341 --> 07:18.341 have I heard that name before ? And 07:18.341 --> 07:20.563 then I realized at Princeton there were 07:20.563 --> 07:22.619 stars outside some of the windows of 07:22.619 --> 07:24.786 the older buildings , and one of those 07:24.786 --> 07:26.841 is a window of a dorm I was in maybe 07:26.841 --> 07:29.063 fresh sophomore or junior year , and on 07:29.063 --> 07:31.341 that star was Lieutenant Bonnyman . Uh , 07:31.341 --> 07:33.452 I didn't know who he was . I remember 07:33.452 --> 07:35.508 researching though his name and that 07:35.508 --> 07:37.508 star because I thought of his names 07:37.508 --> 07:39.730 outside my window . Uh , I was probably 07:39.730 --> 07:41.952 an ROTC cadet at that point . I want to 07:41.952 --> 07:44.119 know who he is . Uh , and so they told 07:44.119 --> 07:43.399 me a little bit of the story there and 07:43.399 --> 07:45.566 it , it rang a bell with me . I know I 07:45.566 --> 07:47.621 wrote something about him too when I 07:47.621 --> 07:49.788 was , I'll have to find that and , and 07:49.788 --> 07:51.843 maybe release it , but it was pretty 07:51.843 --> 07:51.100 cool to see the connection between 07:51.100 --> 07:53.510 someone who I'd heard of as a Medal of 07:53.510 --> 07:55.343 Honor recipient and then the the 07:55.343 --> 07:57.619 commitment of our country to then go 07:57.619 --> 07:59.839 find him . In a foreign land and bring 07:59.839 --> 08:02.829 him back uh so that that that the whole 08:02.829 --> 08:05.051 cycle is sort of complete and the honor 08:05.051 --> 08:07.273 he gets the honor that he deserves , so 08:07.273 --> 08:09.329 pretty cool and it was emblematic of 08:09.329 --> 08:11.551 this day today like watching the troops 08:11.551 --> 08:13.519 in real time and then watching the 08:13.519 --> 08:15.686 legacy of their service as well played 08:15.686 --> 08:17.797 out all here in Hawaii . So it's been 08:17.797 --> 08:18.239 great thank you . Thank you .