On Tuesday, President Donald Trump proposed using US cities as military training grounds for an “internal war,” during a rare meeting with senior military officers.
Trump, a Republican, urged hundreds of generals and admirals gathered from across the globe to prepare for increased roles in managing Democrat-led cities, including Chicago.
Meanwhile, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth highlighted another challenge, pledging to combat “fat generals” and reverse what he termed “decades of decline.”
“I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military,” Trump stated, standing before a massive American flag at Quantico, Virginia.
Trump emphasized, “We will address these issues one by one, and this will be a significant responsibility for many of you here. This is a war too—a war from within.”
He commenced his speech criticizing “woke” practices in the military, asserting that his administration was “reviving the warrior spirit.”
His lengthy address adopted a more political tone, diverging from prior presidents who generally avoided domestic politics in military speeches.
‘Fat generals’
Defense Secretary and former Fox News host Hegseth called the unprecedented meeting last week, followed by Trump’s decision to speak.
Speculation surrounded the gathering of top military leaders, hinting at a major announcement.
Ultimately, it focused on restoring what Iraq war veteran Hegseth termed the “military ethos.”
Hegseth announced mandatory semi-annual physical fitness tests for all ranks, criticizing the presence of “fat generals and admirals” at the Pentagon.
He also stressed “grooming standards,” requiring short hair and shaving, adding, “Join special forces if you want a beard. Otherwise, shave. We’re not a military of Nordic pagans.”
Hegseth declared an end to “ideological garbage,” citing examples like climate change concerns, bullying, “toxic” leadership, and race or gender-based promotions.
The speeches by Trump and Hegseth occurred amid domestic and international controversies, with Trump deploying troops in Los Angeles, Washington, Portland, Oregon, and Memphis, Tennessee.
‘American muscle’
Internationally, Trump ordered lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, despite legal concerns.
He also commanded strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran-backed Yemeni rebels.
In a sometimes disjointed speech, Trump said he was “discovering American muscle,” asserting the US has the “strongest military in the world.”
Trump has led a rare purge of senior officers since taking office.
In May, Hegseth announced significant reductions in general and flag officers, including at least a 20% cut in active-duty four-star generals and admirals.
Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has also dismissed top officers, including Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Charles “CQ” Brown, fired without explanation in February.
Other top officers ousted this year include leaders of the Navy, Coast Guard, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, a Navy admiral at NATO, and three senior military attorneys.
Hegseth defended these removals, stating: “It’s nearly impossible to change a culture with those who helped create—or even benefited from—that culture.”
