Pete Hegseth speaks at Liberty University’s Convocation

 Pete Hegseth rolled up his sleeves, showcased his “We the People” tattoo, and shared his heart about the future of freedom during Liberty University’s Convocation, Jan. 25, 2019. 

“America is the human experiment. It is the only hope in human freedom on the planet. Either we restore her, or we lose the fight for freedom,” Hegseth said. 

Hegseth is a Fox and Friends contributor, Army veteran, the CEO of Concerned Veterans for America and an author. In 2003, Hegseth graduated from Princeton University, and in 2013, he graduated from Harvard University with a master’s degree in public policy. In between his education, Hegseth was deployed three times. Hegseth said his time in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan expanded his knowledge of how the world sees America. 

“I looked (the Islamic State group) eye-to-eye, I did night raids and kicked down their doors. They believe the future is theirs. They believe you are evil,” Hegseth said. 

Hegseth can be seen Saturday mornings on Fox and Friends. Hegseth said he is not a journalist, he simply gives his opinion and context to news. His contribution to the channel is an extension of his service and purpose. He sees it as a place to keep fighting. 

“I don’t know where our country would be without Fox News channel,” Hegseth said. 

Hegseth said he often speaks to older crowds and emphasizes the same three ideas: history is not over, America is not inevitable and that freedom for the future rests with America. 

“You can’t assume you are going to walk into a prosperous environment unless you do something about it, unless you are engaged,” Hegseth said. 

This sentiment laid the groundwork for an argument for college kids to get involved in American politics. 

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. You don’t pass it to the next generation in the blood stream. Every generation has to fight for it and understand it,” Hegseth said, quoting former President Ronald Regan. 

Hegseth said that alumni of schools like Liberty — schools that keep their values first — are going to be leaders in America’s worldwide success and the furthering of freedom. Hegseth emphasized the need for America to lead the world. 

“If the 21st century is not an American led century, then the 21st century will not be a free century,” Hegseth said. 

Hegseth praised President Donald Trump’s fierce fight for the working American. Early in the 2016 campaign, Hegseth was not a Trump supporter. He was known to be a Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz supporter. 

Hegseth said he had a “Trump conversion moment.”

He admires Trump’s refusal to conform to the agenda of establishment Republicans and political correctness. Hegseth said Trump is waging a culture war on Democrats and political correctness. 

“I refuse to live under speech codes and under political correctness,” Hegseth said. 

The Convocation address is available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LibertyOSD.