President Donald Trump held a meeting with top military officials at the Quantico military base near Washington. The meeting on Tuesday was attended by numerous generals, admirals, and their advisors. The US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unexpectedly organized this meeting. Both Trump and Hegseth, in their addresses, expressed comments that were seen as belittling towards the military and suggesting the use of the armed forces to counter domestic threats. Hegseth voiced disparaging opinions against military personnel who did not share his views on representing the US Senate, and his remarks at the meeting were seen as inappropriate. This particular meeting is usually a significant event attended by the highest-ranking military figures in America; however, this time Hegseth made criticisms about soldiers.
During this meeting, President Donald Trump also spoke. He criticized his political rivals, claiming that crime was higher in Democratic-led cities, even though crime rates were actually decreasing. Trump stated that he wanted to deploy the military to deal with internal adversaries. While the use of the military domestically is not the norm in the US, Trump had previously deployed the National Guard to some cities. Trump claims that he is aiding the public and fighting crime. This has led to protests in several locations. He said that the meeting would be a big task for many people. This is an internal fight, he said.
Hegseth announced that previous leaders had turned the military into a ‘woke department,’ implying an excessive focus on political correctness. This would no longer be the case. He also criticized the appearance of the soldiers, arguing that ‘fat generals and admirals’ should not be present in the Pentagon. Hegseth asserted that only those who were most fit would be chosen for combat. If women did not pass, it would not matter. He didn’t want to see weaker individuals in the military. Hegseth denounced efforts to include diverse groups and transgender soldiers, indicating that recognition months, diversity offices, and boys wearing dresses will not be allowed. Beards will also be prohibited. However, the no-beard rule could be problematic for African American soldiers because they have a skin condition that causes severe pain when shaving.