Hegseth hails Trump as ‘true and rightful heir’ of Ronald Reagan at defense forum

Published December 6, 2025 5:02pm ET



Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called President Donald Trump the “true and rightful heir” of Ronald Reagan at a defense forum named after the former president in Southern California on Saturday.

Speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Hegseth based the comparison on Trump and Reagan’s shared “peace through strength” foreign policy doctrine.

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