Pete Hegseth: “We don't need to be everywhere and the world's policeman…”

“And as people kind of look around the world and they say, gosh, I know America has to play a part, but we don't want to be everywhere. We don't want to be the world's policeman. What do you say about that? We don't need to be everywhere and the world's policeman, but if not America, then who? Who's going to lead the free world? And I believe we should be America's sheriff, standing proud with a shiny gold badge.” (02:15–02:19)

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.