U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas on January 12, 2026, praising the site as a testament to American ingenuity and technological leadership. Speaking during his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, Hegseth lauded Elon Musk and the SpaceX team for creating what he described as “nothing like this in America. There is nothing like this in the world.”

The visit highlights the Trump administration’s focus on showcasing U.S. innovation in defense technology. Hegseth emphasized the importance of private-sector advancements in aerospace and space technology for strengthening national security and maintaining America’s competitive edge on the global stage.

Video footage of the tour shows Hegseth touring the Starbase production and testing facilities, where cutting-edge rockets and spacecraft are developed and manufactured. His remarks underline the administration’s commitment to integrating private-sector ingenuity with military priorities, positioning Starbase as a central hub for advancing the “Arsenal of Freedom” initiative.

By spotlighting SpaceX’s capabilities, Hegseth reinforced the role of technological innovation as a cornerstone of U.S. defense strategy, while encouraging collaboration between private industry and government to ensure American superiority in aerospace and national security sectors.