President Trump officially welcomed new Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper to the Pentagon yesterday and expressed “absolute confidence” that the U.S. military will grow more dominant under his leadership. In an outdoor ceremony, the president praised the former Army secretary. He was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday and is now the first permanent Pentagon chief in more than six months for the administration. “I have absolute confidence that Mark will ensure our incredible military is fully prepared to deter conflict and to defeat any foe,” the president said. “No enemy can match the awesome might of the American Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the United States Marines.” “Our military today is more powerful by far than ever before,” the president continued. “And three years ago, we could not have said that, could we, Mark? We’re giving our war fighters the tools they need to fight and win with overwhelming force after years and years of budget cuts. … We have more than made up for all of it.”