US Defense Secretary Compares Trump to Lee Kuan Yew at Asia-Pacific Speech

At the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth outlined America's Indo-Pacific strategy, emphasizing a focus on common sense and national interests to preserve peace in the region. He drew parallels between President Donald Trump's approach and that of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, praising both as 'historic men' with pragmatic styles who challenged outdated methods and prioritized mutual self-interest. Hegseth highlighted Lee's leadership in transforming Singapore into a global financial and innovation hub over three decades, and described Trump's vision as similarly grounded in practical policies. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to remain in the Indo-Pacific, signaling a strategic stance against Chinese expansionism while respecting Chinese civilization and seeking to avoid conflict. However, Hegseth's comparison of Trump to Lee sparked criticism on social media in Singapore, with some viewing the analogy as inappropriate or exaggerated. Despite the backlash, Hegseth maintained that both leaders' approaches have yielded significant and positive results in their respective contexts.