Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, delivered remarks highlighting the importance of American manufacturing in building defense equipment.
“Ultimately, I don’t care what name is on the side of a missile—or what name is on the side of a rocket—or what company builds it, or where it came from. Except that it is MADE IN AMERICA. I just want the BEST.”
This comment was made during a stop in Los Angeles as part of the nationwide “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which Hegseth launched on January 4, 2026. The tour aims to rally public and industry support for revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and American manufacturing workforce.
According to the Department of War’s announcement, the tour began in Newport News, Virginia, where Hegseth visited shipbuilding yards and a recruiting station, and administered the oath of enlistment to new recruits. The initiative underscores that national security and global peace depend on the speed and capability of the DIB, driven by the hard work of American workers. It positions American manufacturing as the foundation of national strength, with the workforce serving on the frontlines alongside warfighters.
The tour promotes reforms to defense acquisition processes, focusing on speed, innovation, and a “commercial-first” mindset. This includes reducing bureaucratic red tape, empowering program leaders, and providing stable, long-term contracts to encourage industry investment and expansion. The goal is to build a more agile, accountable defense ecosystem that delivers essential tools to warfighters promptly.
These remarks reflect the Trump administration’s “peace through strength” agenda, which seeks to rebuild the DIB to ensure U.S. military superiority. Hegseth’s focus on prioritizing American-made systems—regardless of the specific company or brand—aligns with efforts to strengthen domestic production capacity amid concerns over global supply chains and competition.
The “Arsenal of Freedom” tour continues as a broader movement to restore industrial prowess, emphasizing that national strength stems from both military capability and the ingenuity of the American people.
