The Department of Defense on Saturday unveiled a striking new ad declaring the end of wokeness in the U.S. military and the return to a merit-based force aimed at achieving President Donald Trump’s vision of “peace through strength.”
In sharp contrast to widely criticized Biden-era ads—one of which spotlighted a lesbian couple’s wedding—the new ad showcases U.S. service members engaged in high-intensity training and battlefield combat. Set to dramatic music, the spot features powerful narration from President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, signaling a no-nonsense pivot toward readiness and discipline.
“No more distraction, no more electric tanks, no more gender confusion, no more climate change worship. We are laser-focused on our mission of warfighting,” the defense secretary declares in the video, which is filled with scenes of various U.S. military branches in action. Trump then adds that U.S. military success will be measured “not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end.”
Titled “Peace Through Strength,” the ad was released across all Pentagon social media channels after it debuted during the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race on Saturday. A Defense Department spokesperson told the New York Post that the ad had been produced using old footage.
“Through our power and might, we will lead the world to peace,” Trump goes on to say. “Our friends will respect us. Our enemies will fear us, and the whole world will admire the unrivaled greatness of the United States military. “We will replenish the pride of our armed forces, end the recruitment crisis.”
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? JUST IN: This Pete Hegseth and President Trump-featured U.S. Military ad has just aired during the Coca-Cola 600 race today.
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“No more distraction. No more electric tanks, no more gender confusion, no more climate change worship. We are laser focused on our mission of… pic.twitter.com/vQ3QwLSolk
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 26, 2025
Addressing the military’s recruitment crisis—worsened significantly under the Biden administration—has been a top priority for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In 2022, the Army missed its recruitment target by roughly 25% and failed to hit the mark again in 2023. That same year, both the Navy and Air Force also fell far short of their enlistment goals, deepening concerns about the force’s long-term readiness.
“We don’t fight because we hate what’s in front of us,” the defense secretary says in the ad. “We fight because we love what’s behind us.”
