Both reinforced the Trump administration’s stance that border and national security are one and the same. Both noted that the Department of Defense would provide any resources to the Border Patrol, such as military personnel from reserve and active-duty troops.

Pete Hegseth’s motorcade stirred a cloud of dust around dozens of troops and border agents waiting in the desert to greet the new defense secretary. It was his first visit to the U.S-Mexico border and the 30-foot steel border fence loomed tall behind him as he shook hands.