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.

In a news release posted on Facebook, Joint Task Force North said Hegseth will visit Fort Bliss on Monday, Feb. 3 and the local area "to see the efforts of military men and women are undertaking in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities to secure the border." Media advisory from the Joint Task Force North Public Affairs Office.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) (not pictured), on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 10, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.