WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used a speech at West Point Wednesday to forcefully endorse having women in combat roles and emphasize the military's obligation to defend the U.S. Constitution 鈥 ideals some fear may come under fire in the upcoming Trump administration.
Speaking to cadets at the U.S. Military Academy in New York, he recalled commanding troops during the early days of . He said he wanted to keep his command post at the front where he could see the fight, but he told his soldiers that the risks were serious and any of them could stay back and no one would think less of them.
It was one of the women, he said, that was first to challenge him on it.
鈥淚n no uncertain terms, they were telling me to stop talking and get to the fight. And that is who the women of the United States military are,鈥 said Austin.
His remarks made by the man Trump has tapped to be Austin's successor to lead the Pentagon. Pete Hegseth, a Fox News co-host and former Army 香港六合彩挂牌资料 Guard soldier, has made it clear that he believes men and women should not .
A month ago, he told podcast host Shawn Ryan that, 鈥淚鈥檓 straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn鈥檛 made us more effective. Hasn鈥檛 made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated."
Austin, a retired four-star general who has spent more than 40 years in the Army and commanded at every level, pushed back, saying he's seen incredibly capable and brave women fighting for their country in battle.
"So look, if I get a little fired up about this, it鈥檚 just because this isn鈥檛 1950. It isn鈥檛 1948. It is 2024," said Austin. 鈥淎nd any military that turns away tough, talented patriots 鈥 women or men 鈥 is just making itself weaker and smaller. So enough already."
While never mentioning President-elect Donald Trump, Hegseth or the incoming administration, Austin also admonished the cadets to remember their sworn duty to defend the Constitution.
His remarks echoed others who have warned about the potential for Trump to try and use active-duty military troops to police the southern border, deport immigrants who don't have legal permanent status, and even on city streets to combat urban crime. And through his campaign, Trump has renewed within the U.S. when he deems necessary.
During his first term, as riots against police brutality roiled the nation, Trump military personnel on Washington, D.C. street. Top military officers, such as then-Gen. Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, , including issuing a memo that stressed that every member of the military 鈥渟wears an oath to support and defend the Constitution and the values embedded within it.鈥
鈥淲e defend government of the people, by the people, and for the people 鈥 and we do not bend on matters of honor, integrity, or law,鈥 Austin said at West Point. 鈥淲e are here to protect our people, to defend our country, and to uphold our Constitution. And that is not negotiable.鈥
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