By WASHINGTON, Sept 30 (AfrikTimes) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed “fat generals” and diversity initiatives that he said had led to decades of decline in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday they should resign if they don’t support his agenda.
Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, was joined by U.S. President Donald Trump, himself a former reality television host, for an on-camera event in Quantico, Virginia that had a made-for-TV character to it with generals and admirals assembled on short notice.
“Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the ‘Woke Department,'” Hegseth said as he kicked off the event. “But not anymore,” he added.
Addressing an auditorium full of top bras summoned from around the world without explanation last week, Hegseth defended his firings of flag officers, which include the top U.S. general, who is Black, and the Navy’s top admiral, who is a woman. He said the officers he relieved were part of a broken culture.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
He promised sweeping changes to how discrimination complaints are handled and how accusations of wrongdoing are investigated at the Pentagon, saying the current system has top brass walking on “egg shells.”
“If the words I’m speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” Hegseth said. “I know the overwhelming majority of you feel the opposite. These words make your hearts full.”
Hegseth also criticized the appearance of overweight officers, saying: “It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon.” He said all fitness tests would be set to male benchmarks only and emphasized the importance of grooming standards.
“The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos,” Hegseth told the audience, which sat in silence.
Members of the military attend a meeting convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Quantico, Virginia.
TRUMP TELLS COMMANDERS: I HAVE YOUR BACKS
Trump, as he departed for the event from the White House, told reporters on Tuesday that he would fire military leaders “on the spot” if he did not like them.
At the event, Trump opened with a joke as he took the stage for a speech that lasted more than an hour, saying: “If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room. Of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future.”
But he then spoke warmly of the military, in sometimes-wandering remarks that touched on issues like the prowess of U.S. nuclear submarines but also included fierce criticism of the media, former President Joe Biden and Venezuela. He echoed Hegseth when he turned his attention to his opposition to diversity initiatives.
“Merit. Everything’s based on merit. You’re all based on merit. We’re not going to have somebody taking your place for political reasons, because they are politically correct and you’re not,” Trump said. “I am with you. I support you, and as president, I have your backs 100%,” Trump added.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
The auditorium was filled with uniformed officials, seated in front of a stage with a large American flag, a lectern and boards that read: “Strength. Service. America.” As Trump spoke, several officers sat looking expressionless, and the room was far quieter than the crowds at Trump’s usual gatherings. A naval officer quietly took notes.
After his speech, Trump departed the auditorium and there did not appear to be any one-on-one meeting with the assembled military leaders.
The U.S. military is meant to be apolitical, loyal to the U.S. Constitution and independent of any party or political movement. That creates pressure on the commanders to avoid reacting to overtly political statements, by Trump or Hegseth.
It was not immediately clear how much the event cost. The gathering required military leaders to fly in from around the world just days before a potential government shutdown.
Members of the military listen to President Trump at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
REVAMP OF DEFENSE PRIORITIES?
The Pentagon has undergone eight months of sweeping changes since Trump took office, including senior firings, the removal of books from academy libraries and orders for lethal strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela.
“If you try to poison our people, we will blow you out of existence,” Trump told the audience.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense the “Department of War,” reverting to a title it held until after World War Two when officials sought to emphasize the Pentagon’s role in preventing conflict. The name change will require congressional approval.
The administration has also announced a plan to deploy the National Guard to Chicago, the latest U.S. city Mr. Trump has targeted for troop deployments despite objections from local officials. He ordered National Guard deployments to Portland, Oregon, over the weekend and sent Guard troops and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles earlier this year, despite protests from local authorities.
President Trump speaks during a meeting of senior military leaders.
“I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military. National Guard, but our military,” Trump said, referring to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
He acknowledged discomfort among his opponents for deploying the military on U.S. streets, but said America is in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport.
“America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don’t wear uniforms,” Trump said.
Members of the military wait for President Trump to arrive.
