'It will continue until judgment day': Hegseth warns America's fight isn't over

WASHINGTON, DC: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said America's struggle against its enemies “will continue until Judgment Day,” warning that threats remain 25 years after 9/11.

Hegseth said enemies still seek to curb US power and kill Americans, including Islamic t********s abroad and at home.

He made the remarks on Friday, September 11, during a 25th anniversary ceremony at the Pentagon attended by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Pete Hegseth says the struggle against enemies continues

Hegseth said the attacks of September 11, 2001, changed America but did not achieve what the attackers wanted, as millions responded by stepping forward to serve.

“The struggle against evil continued, and it continues now,” Hegseth said. “It will continue until Judgment Day.”

He said the lesson from 9/11 was that the country could not assume history or conflict had ended.

“Because history was not over; it's never over,” Hegseth said. “Our only answer here on Earth is eternal vigilance. That indeed is the price of freedom.”

Hegseth said many members of the US military today were either too young to remember 9/11 or had not yet been born, making it important to preserve the memory of the attacks for a new generation.

He also said threats remained active, telling the audience, “There are still enemies who hate us.”

Defense secretary points to Iran as a continuing threat

Hegseth then connected the anniversary message to Iran, describing the country as an Islamic theocracy that he said had wished death upon the United States for nearly half a century.

He said the US had spent the previous six months attacking what he called “the world's most prolific state sponsor of t*******m,” while describing Iran as a regime that had sponsored attacks against Americans for decades.

“Over the past six months, we have laid waste to the world's most prolific state sponsor of t********m,” Hegseth said.

He credited Trump with the US military actions, saying Iran “did not factor in this president.”

Hegseth said the United States had killed Iranian leaders, destroyed its air force, and eliminated its defenses. 

He also said the US was ensuring Iran would never have a nuclear weapon.

“The economic pressure tightens every day,” he said. “We control the Strait. We will finish this fight.”

Pete Hegseth invokes the legacy of 9/11

Hegseth's remarks came as the Pentagon honored the 184 people killed at the building on September 11, 2001, including military personnel and civilians.

He also honored survivors and first responders who entered the Pentagon after the attack.

“At this very hour, a quarter century ago, Islamic t********s murdered 184 Americans right here at the Pentagon,” Hegseth said.

He recalled the other attacks that morning, including the two planes that struck the World Trade Center and Flight 93, whose passengers fought back after hijackers seized the aircraft.

Hegseth described Flight 93 as “the first American counterattack of the war” and invoked passenger Todd Beamer's reported words: “Let's roll.”

He said Americans who served after 9/11 represented a generation of sacrifice, describing the conflicts that followed as “our retribution.”

Hegseth closed by turning again to military service and vigilance, saying the country depends on those who wear the uniform to remain ready.

“The top 1% of Americans, those that wear the uniform, still keep the watch,” he said. “We all sleep in peace because we know they stand ready.”