War Secretary Pete Hegseth and his wife Jennifer spent Thanksgiving with Navy sailors stationed in Latin America, where they are supporting the Southern Spear mission targeting narco-terror networks. In a video posted to X, the Hegseths shared their decision to spend the holiday aboard Navy warships, emphasizing the sacrifices of military personnel and expressing gratitude for their service. Hegseth also offered prayers for the victims of a recent attack on two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., highlighting the ongoing threats to American security.
The Hegseths visited both the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, according to the Department of War. In another video posted to X, the Hegseths were seen serving Thanksgiving plates to sailors. Hegseth joked about giving out too much candy at Halloween and too much turkey on Thanksgiving.
Aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, the war secretary delivered an address to the crew, expressing gratitude for the sailors’ service and referencing the recent attack on National Guardsmen. He called them a reminder of the bravery and selflessness of Americans who put it all on the line. Hegseth also closed with George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation and added a prayer for all deployed forces.