Watch Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth address Navy after its win over Air Force

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Watch Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth address Navy after its win over Air Force

Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Sun, Oct 5, 2025 ·

2 min read

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After picking up a victory over another service academy, Navy football got a visit from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth .

The Midshipmen held off Air Force 34-31 on Saturday, Oct. 4 for the first victory in the battle of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy . Hegseth was in attendance for the game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

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Following the home victory, Hegseth had some words for the victors.

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Pete Hegseth attends Navy vs. Air Force football game. See photos from Saturday

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth poses for a photo on the field before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth walks with Navy Midshipmen superintendent Marine Corps Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth does push ups with the Brigade of Midship on the field before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen takes the field before the game against the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth salutes during the performance of the national anthem before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shakes hands with Navy captain Gl Clark after the push up competition before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons that Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; A parachutes descends over the field before the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fires a canon on the field at the end of the first quarter during the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Air Force Falcons quarterback Liam Szarka (9) rushes during the first half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; A United States Air Force Academy falconer hold peregrine falcon up so a spectator can touch from the field during the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Dr. Troy E. Meinkat, Secretary of the Air Force, stand son the field during the first half of the between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth walks the field during the second quarter off the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen wide receiver Eli Heidenreich (22) runs by a diving Air Force Falcons defensive back Houston Hendrix (19) for a first half touchdown at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen quarterback Blake Horvath (11) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen and Air Force Falcons mascot wrestle during the second half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Air Force Falcons quarterback Liam Szarka (9) celebrates with tight end Bruin Fleischmann (88) after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Air Force Falcons tight end Bruin Fleischmann (88) runs for a touchdown during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen wide receiver Eli Heidenreich (22) jumps into the stands to celebrate with fans after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Air Force Falcons wide receiver Jonah Dawson (81) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen cheers during the second half against the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Air Force Falcons superintendent Lieutenant General Tony D. Bauernfeind reacts during the second half against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen stand at attention during the playing of the Air Force Falcons Alma mater after the game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen defensive tackle Kendall Whiteside (98) celebrates after the game against the Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Navy Midshipmen celebrates at the conclusion the playing of the Blue and Gold after defeating Air Force Falcons at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
(Tommy Gilligan, Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

"You know what? Nothing else matters. You got it done. In fact, the best wins are the ones where it takes you out," Hegseth said. "Defense doesn't show up right away. Offense doesn't show up right away."

He added he couldn't respect more of the team's performance and the adversity they overcame.

"That's going to be your life, not just in this game, but for the rest of your life when you're wearing a different kind of uniform. There's going to be (expletive) days, there's going to be tough days, there's going to be frustrations. You're going to have bad leaders. You're going to have good leaders, clear missions and missions with no clarity at all," Hegseth said. "What you do in those moments is what's going to be the difference between life and death for the men, for the Americans, for the sailors, for the Seals, for the Marines that you lead."

Hegseth added he was proud to be the Secretary of War and congratulated them on behalf of President Donald Trump .

"From President Trump to all of you, we have your back. The nation has your back. Your leadership has your back. Stick to it, fight like hell. Do what you did in the field today, and America will never, ever go wrong," he said.

With the win, Navy is now 5-0 on the season and can win the coveted Commander-in-Chief's Trophy in the season finale against Army.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch: Pete Hegseth gives Navy speech after win over Air Force

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