Trump and Hegseth Push Major Military Overhaul: Criticizing Diversity Initiatives and Proposing Urban Deployments

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addresses senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized "fat generals" and diversity programs that he claimed caused decades of military deterioration during a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday, telling them to resign if they don't support his agenda.

Accompanying Hegseth was US President Donald Trump, who also addressed the assembled admirals and generals in Quantico, Virginia, suggesting the possibility of using deployments to US cities as "training grounds for our military."

The presentations by Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, and Trump, a former reality television star, had a theatrical quality after top US military officials were summoned with little notice last week to this impromptu event.

"Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the 'Woke Department,'" Hegseth declared as he opened the event. "But not anymore."

Speaking to an auditorium filled with top brass who traveled from around the world, Hegseth defended his dismissal of flag officers, including the top US general, who is Black, and the Navy's top admiral, who is a woman. He stated these officers were part of a broken culture.

He promised comprehensive changes to the Pentagon's handling of discrimination complaints and misconduct investigations. He stated the current system has senior leaders 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 stated.

"I know the overwhelming majority of you feel the opposite. These words make your hearts full."

Hegseth declared it was "completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon."

He announced 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 silent audience.

Democrats broadly condemned the event, claiming it pushed partisan politics deep into the US military.

"It signals that partisan loyalty matters more than capability, judgment, or service to the Constitution, undermining the principle of a professional, nonpartisan military," said Senator Jack Reed, the leading Democrat on the Senate's armed services committee.

Before departing for the event from the White House, Trump told reporters he would dismiss military leaders if he didn't approve of them.

When Trump took the stage, he delivered a speech lasting more than an hour.

"If you don't like what I'm saying, you can leave the room," Trump joked. "Of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future."

He then spoke positively about the military in sometimes-meandering remarks that covered topics from US nuclear submarine capabilities to sharp criticisms of the media, former President Joe Biden, and Venezuela.

Echoing Hegseth, Trump emphasized his opposition to diversity initiatives.

"Merit. Everything's 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 stated.

"I am with you. I support you, and as president, I have your backs 100%," Trump assured.

The auditorium was filled with uniformed officials seated before a stage featuring a large American flag, a lectern, and boards reading: "Strength. Service. America."

As Trump spoke, several officers maintained expressionless faces, and the room was considerably quieter than Trump's typical gatherings. A naval officer took notes.

After his speech, Trump departed without any apparent one-on-one meetings with the assembled military leaders.

The US military is intended to be apolitical, loyal to the US Constitution and independent of any party or political movement. This creates pressure on commanders to avoid reacting to overtly political comments from Trump or Hegseth.

It remains unclear how much the event cost. Last week, Hegseth ordered military leaders to fly in from worldwide locations for the gathering, just before a potential government shutdown.

The Pentagon has undergone eight months of dramatic changes since Trump took office, including firings, book bans in academy libraries, and orders for lethal strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela.

This month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense the "Department of War," a change requiring congressional approval.

Over the weekend, Trump announced plans to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. Earlier this year, he sent Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles despite protests from local officials. He has promised to send troops to Chicago.

In his speech, Trump said he told Hegseth "we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military."

He acknowledged criticism for deploying military on U.S. streets, but claimed America faces an internal invasion by immigrants illegally in the country whom his administration aims 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.

This prompted a sharp reaction from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat.

"Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be 'taken out' is not fit to lead the nation," Pritzker posted on X.