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Summary: Vice President JD Vance traveled to Fort Campbell, Kentucky on November 26, 2025, to address troops ahead of Thanksgiving, delivering a message emphasizing military standards, modern warfare preparation, and gratitude for service. The visit took on a somber tone after Vance opened by acknowledging a shooting incident that had occurred hours earlier near the White House, where two National Guard members were critically wounded in what authorities described as a targeted attack. Vance used the moment to underscore the sacrifice of military personnel, praised the administration’s commitment to high standards and clear missions for troops, and expressed personal gratitude for the soldiers serving at Fort Campbell—home to the legendary 101st Airborne Division and other elite units. His remarks blended policy substance with personal reflection on the meaning of Thanksgiving, while emphasizing that American soldiers remain “the most dangerous weapon anywhere in the world.”
Participants
Vice President JD Vance – Vice President of the United States
General Travis McIntosh – Commander, Fort Campbell
Command Sergeant Major Charles Walker – Command Sergeant Major, Fort Campbell
Senator Marsha Blackburn – U.S. Senator from Tennessee
Congressman John Rose – U.S. Representative
Bob Ritchie (Kid Rock) – Musical performer and guest
Major Josh Wilcox – Fort Campbell staff
Master Sergeant Aaron Duhaczek – Fort Campbell staff
Mr. Jim Parks – Fort Campbell staff
Major Rob Wright – Fort Campbell staff
Dan Driscoll – Secretary of the Army
Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense (referred to as “Secretary of War”)
President Donald Trump – President of the United States (mentioned, not present)
Opening Remarks and White House Shooting Acknowledgment
Vance began his address with immediate acknowledgment of breaking news that had unfolded just hours before his appearance. He informed the assembled troops about a shooting outside the White House in which two National Guard members were injured in the line of duty. The Vice President indicated that details were still emerging, stating that the administration was “still learning everything” and did not yet know the motive.
He asked all people of faith in the audience to pray for the two injured guardsmen, noting they remained “in pretty tough condition” and expressing hope they would be able to spend Thanksgiving with their families. Vance used this incident as a framework for his broader message, calling it “a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they’re active duty, reserve, or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America.”
The Vice President personalized his gratitude by referencing his daily work at the White House, acknowledging the many service members who wear Army uniforms and protect that building. He concluded this opening segment by blessing the injured guardsmen and expressing prayers for their safety and recovery.
Guest Recognition and Fort Campbell Leadership
After the somber opening, Vance transitioned to recognizing the leadership and special guests present at Fort Campbell. He specifically thanked General Travis McIntosh and Command Sergeant Major Charles Walker for their leadership of the installation, asking them to stand and be recognized by the crowd.
Among the political guests, Vance highlighted Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, calling her a “dear friend,” and Congressman John Rose, both of whom were asked to stand and be acknowledged.
In a lighter moment that drew laughter, Vance introduced Bob Ritchie, better known as Kid Rock, explaining that he had given his staff “one instruction” that he didn’t want to follow “a literal rock star” before giving a speech. With mock exasperation, he joked that his staff “screwed that up the day before Thanksgiving” and declared “every single one of ’em are fired.” He then praised Kid Rock not just as a great musician and American, but as someone “who loves the soldiers of the United States Army.”
Vance also thanked Major Josh Wilcox, Master Sergeant Aaron Duhaczek, Mr. Jim Parks, and Major Rob Wright for making his visit possible, before making self-deprecating comments about the cold weather and his decision not to wear a jacket despite his staff’s advice.
Unit Recognition at Fort Campbell
The Vice President dedicated a substantial portion of his remarks to recognizing the specific military units stationed at Fort Campbell. He began with the installation’s most famous unit, the 101st Airborne Division, asking “Where’s the 101st Airborne?” and receiving enthusiastic cheers in response.
Vance effusively praised the unit, calling it “one of the proudest units in the entire United States Army for all war fighters everywhere.” He emphasized that “everybody knows the prestige, everybody knows the professionalism, and everybody knows the greatness of the 101st Airborne.” He stated that when the nation calls on the 101st, “you all execute, you make us proud, you kick the enemies’ ass, and you come home safely.”
The Vice President then recognized the Strike and Destiny Brigades, which had recently completed deployments in Europe and the Middle East. To those soldiers experiencing their first time back home in months, Vance declared “we’re proud of you, we’re grateful to you, and for the Vice President of the United States, welcome home.”
He attempted to recognize the Legionnaires, receiving what he jokingly described as a response from “like five or six” people. Similarly, when asking for the Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, he quipped that there were “like three” present because “they’re all working right now.”
Vance also gave recognition to the 52nd Ordnance Group, members of the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, and the personnel who run elite training schools at the installation, calling Fort Campbell “one of the proudest military installations anywhere in the United States Army.”
Presidential Message and Administration Leadership
Vance conveyed a direct message from President Donald Trump, acknowledging that the President could not attend in person. He stated that Trump “is proud of our soldiers and he’s proud of every single one of you,” conveying the President’s wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving and gratitude for their service.
The Vice President then highlighted key members of the administration’s military leadership. He praised Dan Driscoll, the Secretary of the Army, saying he’s “doing a great job.” He gave particular attention to Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense (whom Vance referred to using the historical title “Secretary of War”), stating “I think he’s doing an amazing job.”
Secretary Hegseth’s Speech on Military Standards
Vance devoted considerable time to discussing a speech Secretary Hegseth had recently delivered at Quantico Marine Base, calling it “one of the best speeches that I’ve heard about the United States Military.” He explained that Hegseth focused on esprit de corps and the importance of holding military branches to “the very highest possible standards.”
The Vice President quoted directly from Hegseth’s speech, reading: “The new War Department grown rule is this, due unto your unit as you would have done unto your own child’s unit. Would you want him serving with fat or unfit or under trained troops, or alongside people who can’t meet basic standards?”
Vance continued quoting: “Because this job is life or death, standards must be met. And not just met at every level, we should seek to exceed the standard, to push the envelope, to compete. And this means that the War Department, first and foremost, we must restore a ruthless, dispassionate and common-sense application standards.”
With evident enthusiasm, Vance told the troops he was thinking while listening to the speech: “Man, this is awesome. We’re talking about bringing the highest standards in the world to the very best United States Army. I’m ready to run through a wall with this guy.”
He then revealed the punchline: Hegseth concluded his speech by saying “No more beardos”—a clear reference to Vance’s own beard. This drew laughter as the Vice President recounted telling Hegseth afterward: “Man, you had me. This whole speech was amazing.”
Despite the humorous aside, Vance returned to the serious point, emphasizing: “We believe in you so much. We believe in your mission so much that we know that you guys can meet the highest standards in the world. And when you look to your left and to your right, we want you to know that you’re serving with the very best and the very brightest this nation has to offer.”
Historical Context: Von Steuben and American Military Philosophy
Vance shared an anecdote from his visit to the Fort Campbell dining facility earlier that day, where he had served food to soldiers and shared a meal with them. One soldier told him about Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian military leader who came to America 250 years ago to help train the first U.S. Army during the Revolutionary War era, when the young nation lacked military expertise.
According to this historical account, Von Steuben observed something unique about American soldiers: they didn’t just need orders, but also needed to understand why they were doing what they were doing. Vance called this “a fascinating insight to the soldiers of 250 years ago and a fascinating insight to the soldiers of today.”
Building on this historical foundation, the Vice President emphasized: “We don’t just want people who mindlessly follow orders. We want people who think, because we know that the most powerful weapon in the United States arsenal, the most powerful weapon anywhere in the world, it’s not a rifle, it’s not a tank, it’s not a helicopter or an airplane. The most dangerous and lethal weapon anywhere in the world is a United States soldier.”
This philosophy, Vance explained, creates an obligation for military leadership “from the President on down” to explain not just what needs to be done, but why the administration cares so much about specific policies and priorities.
Rationale for High Standards
Vance provided explicit reasoning for the administration’s emphasis on military standards. He acknowledged that “standards got a little lax in the last administration,” but stressed that the deeper motivation goes beyond correcting past deficiencies.
“We care about high standards because if, God forbid, the President of the United States asks you to go to war, we wanna make sure that the people that you’re fighting with are the very best,” Vance explained. He framed this as a moral obligation: “We owe it to your moms and dads, your grandma’s and grandpa’s to only send the very best people off to foreign conflicts, and that is why we care so much about standards.”
Modern Warfare and Technological Evolution
The Vice President addressed how military leadership—including the Secretary of the Army, Secretary of Defense, and President—has consistently discussed preparing the military for “the age of modern warfare, because it’s changed a lot.”
Vance outlined the technological shifts: “We’ve got drones now, we’ve got cyber warfare, we’ve got satellites in space that are as important to the modern warfighter as anything, as any rifle or tank or airplane was 20 or 30 years ago.” He acknowledged that traditional weapons systems—tanks, rifles, and other conventional equipment—remain important, but emphasized that modern conflict requires additional capabilities.
“In this new generation of warfare, we need to give you the technology and the training to be the very best,” Vance stated. He emphasized that preparing soldiers to be the best requires ensuring they can use modern weapons systems “better than anybody else.”
Looking toward future conflicts, the Vice President suggested that upcoming warfare will be “if anything, a war up here as much as any other conflict in the history of the world,” gesturing to indicate intellectual and technological capabilities.
He cited examples of modern conflicts—”what’s going on in Russia or Ukraine,” counterterrorism missions, and potential future military engagements—arguing that “it’s not gonna be the war that we fought 20 years ago. It’s gonna be a much different war.”
Vance conveyed what he characterized as President Trump’s “very simple mission”: “We have got to equip you with the resources, with the training, and with the equipment to win the battle of the future.”
Critique of Past Military Deployments
In one of his most pointed policy statements, Vance offered a bipartisan critique of past military strategy. He prefaced his remarks by emphasizing: “Let’s be honest, it wasn’t just Democrats, it was Democrats and Republicans.”
The Vice President argued that America had been “far too willing to send the bravest people in the world, our best natural resource, you all, the young people who put on a military uniform and are willing to fight and die for their fellow countrymen, we were too willing to send you off to battle without a clear mission, a clear definition of what you were supposed to accomplish.”
Vance called this approach “the mistake of Democrats and Republicans” and “the great stain on the political leadership of this country.” He emphasized the contradiction of having “the best troops in the world” while “very often we went and sent you off to battle without a clear mission.”
Administration’s Military Deployment Commitments
Contrasting past approaches with current policy, Vance made explicit promises about how the Trump administration would handle military deployments. “That is something this President and this administration is never gonna do,” he declared. “If we ask you to go off and do something, if we ask our soldiers to risk their lives, to defend their countries, what I promise you is that we’re only gonna do it with a clear mission and clear guidelines.”
He outlined the administration’s commitments: providing necessary tools and resources, empowering soldiers “to do a very simple thing, which is kick the enemy’s ass and come home safely.”
Vance framed this as a mutual obligation: “It’s not that hard, but that’s what you should demand of your political leadership. Just as you follow orders of the President of the United States, this President stands by you, and if he asks you to do something hard, it’s only gonna be for a very good reason.”
Thanksgiving Reflections and American Identity
Transitioning from policy substance to personal reflection, Vance shared his thoughts on Thanksgiving, calling it “probably my favorite American holiday” and “the most uniquely American holiday.”
He contrasted Thanksgiving with other holidays, noting that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus and is observed by “1.8 billion Christians all over the world.” Despite loving Christmas—”I’ve got three little kids”—he emphasized that Thanksgiving “is a uniquely American thing.”
In a humorous digression that engaged the audience, Vance questioned the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece: turkey. “Who really likes, be honest with yourself, who really likes turkey?” he asked. When a handful of soldiers cheered, he laughingly responded: “You’re all full of shit.”
He offered evidence for his position: “How many times do you roast an 18-pound turkey just randomly? Just, you know, a nice summer afternoon, we’re gonna go get an 18-pound turkey? Nobody does it ’cause turkey doesn’t actually taste that good.”
Despite this culinary skepticism, Vance embraced the tradition: “On Thanksgiving, on the most American holiday, we’re gonna cook a turkey, by God, because that’s what Americans do. We cook this gigantic American bird, and we do all kinds of crazy things to make it taste good.”
He mentioned encountering a soldier earlier who planned to deep-fry a turkey—the same method he intended to use—before offering a food philosophy: “If you’ve gotta deep-fry something to make it taste good, it probably isn’t that good. That’s a pretty good rule of thumb when it comes to food.”
Comparing turkey to chicken, which “is good all the time,” whether deep-fried or not, Vance returned to his central point about the holiday: “The thing about Thanksgiving, it is so American because at the heart of it is the spirit of gratitude.”
Life Philosophy: Living with Gratitude
Vance used the Thanksgiving theme to offer personal advice to the assembled soldiers. “People ask me all the time for advice, and the only piece of advice I can ever give that I think is true for every single person in every circumstance is that the happiest people that I’ve ever met, the most successful people that I’ve ever met, they live their life with a spirit of gratitude.”
He explained this mindset: “They recognize that they would not be there but for the grace of God and a lot of great people in their lives.”
As Vice President, Vance offered this as his singular piece of wisdom: “Live your life in the United States Army, to live your life everywhere with a spirit of gratitude, to recognize that you wouldn’t be wearing that uniform were it not for somebody in your life who loved you and cared for you, that you wouldn’t have this incredible opportunity to serve the United States.”
While acknowledging that military service is “tough” and “a life of sacrifice,” Vance reframed these challenges: “I happen to believe that the life of service and sacrifice is the greatest blessing that we have in this room today, because what an amazing country it is that takes people from all walks of life and makes them part of the same United States Army, the same sword and shield for the American people, the same organization that for 250 years has kept us safe.”
Personal Gratitude and Closing Remarks
Vance shared what he’s personally thankful for, listing “my beautiful wife and our three beautiful kids,” the opportunity to serve as Vice President, his family, and “Almighty God for the incredible blessings that he’s given this country and also he’s given to me personally.”
At the top of his gratitude list, however, he placed “the United States Army and for the people in this room.”
The Vice President acknowledged the different circumstances soldiers would face on Thanksgiving Day. While many would spend the holiday with friends and families, he recognized that others would not have that opportunity due to deployment preparations or being unable to travel home “because you’ve gotta prepare for the mission.”
He reflected on his own position: “When I think about all the many blessings that are very, very present in my life, there is nothing that compares to being the Vice President of the United States at a time like this, vice president of all of you, vice president of the greatest fighting force that exists anywhere in the world, the United States Army.”
In his concluding message, Vance told the troops: “You guys make this a happy Thanksgiving for me because every single day you show up to work, you put on that uniform and make your nation proud. You make me proud to be your vice president.”
He ended with a reprise of his earlier theme about American military superiority: “Keep on doing what you’re doing, and never forget that the most deadly weapon anywhere in the world, it’s not about technology, it’s not about what you’re holding in your hands. It’s about what’s up here. You are the most dangerous weapon anywhere in the world, and America is counting on it to keep us safe.”
His final words: “Happy Thanksgiving, soldiers. Thank you for having me. God bless you.”
Citation
“Remarks: JD Vance Addresses Troops for Thanksgiving in Fort Campbell, Kentucky – November 26, 2025.” Factbase, Roll Call, 26 Nov. 2025, factba.se.