Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spent his Thanksgiving break observing military personnel stationed off the coast of the Caribbean region. The visit coincided with ongoing activities associated with Operation Southern Spear, a counter-narcotics mission initiated during the Trump administration.

Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, visited Navy warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill. While aboard these vessels, they offered thanks for the service provided by those supporting Operation Southern Spear, which targets narco-terror networks across Latin America.

During his remarks, Hegseth reflected on his own experiences with deployments during holidays, stating that he had often been away from family gatherings and hoped they were enjoying traditional foods and activities. He mentioned bringing some cheer to the service members in the Caribbean as part of their mission support.

Hegseth also extended sympathies following an ambush targeting two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning (November 27).