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Trump and Hegseth to address top US generals in unusual military gathering Hegseth reiterates 'warrior ethos' in address top US generals
(about 3 hours later)
US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth will on Tuesday address American military top brass in person, for an unusual event at a base near Washington DC. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the US military will require combatants to meet the "highest male standard" in physical fitness tests, acknowledging that it may exclude some women from serving.
Hundreds of military leaders, including generals and admirals stationed around the world, are expected to attend. It represents a rare gathering of so many senior personnel in one place. "Standards must be uniform, gender neutral, and high," Hegseth told American military top brass in an unusual address at a base near Washington DC.
No official reason was publicly provided when the leaders were summoned at short notice last week, prompting a flurry of speculation. Vice-President JD Vance has sought to downplay the event. Before a crowd of hundreds of military leaders, the defence secretary reiterated his vision for a "warrior ethos" at the Pentagon, which included taking a physical fitness test twice a year and meeting certain height and weight requirements.
Security is extremely tight for the summit, which will take place at Marine Corps Base Quantico, a sprawling 55,000-acre facility in Virginia. President Donald Trump was also scheduled to speak after Hegseth.
Behind the stage on which Hegseth and Trump were expected to speak was a large American flag, with banners showing the words "strength, service, America" and the various flags of the armed services on either side. Security is extremely tight for the summit at Marine Corps Base Quantico, a sprawling 55,000-acre facility in Virginia.
Confirming his own attendance on Sunday, Trump said it would be "really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things". Hundreds of military leaders, including generals and admirals stationed around the world, are in attendance. It represents a rare gathering of so many senior personnel in one place.
Hegseth: If women do not qualify for combat jobs, 'so be it'
No official reason was publicly provided when the leaders were summoned at short notice last week, prompting a flurry of speculation around what Trump and Hegseth would say.
The bulk of Hegseth's speech focused on the culture of the US military, training, leadership, and "fixing decades of decay", including DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programmes, and the promotion of a "risk averse" officer corps.
He said those officers had been unnerved by "climate change distractions", "woke garbage" and fears of being labelled as "toxic" leaders.
Our war fighters are entitled to be led by the best and most capable leaders," he added. "For too long, we have simply not done that."
There was very little visible or audible reaction from the assembled generals and senior enlisted personnel in the audience, which was mostly silent except for the sound of hundreds of boots snapping to attention as he took the stage and stepped off. Many took notes in some military field notebooks as Hegseth spoke.
The exact number of attendees on Tuesday was reportedly expected to total over 800, including officers drawn from military installations as far as Europe, South Korea and the Middle East.
Many of the officers arrived hours before the event, and were seated in the auditorium according to their branch of service - Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, easily distinguishable by uniforms.
Many of them wore campaign medals showing they had served in Afghanistan, Iraq or the American wider war on terror that was launched following the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Trump rebrands Department of Defense as Department of War
Confirming his own attendance at the event on Sunday, Trump said it would be "really just a very nice meeting talking about how well we're doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things".
The president told NBC News it would be an exercise in generating some "esprit de corps" - suggesting that he saw an opportunity to galvanise his troops.The president told NBC News it would be an exercise in generating some "esprit de corps" - suggesting that he saw an opportunity to galvanise his troops.
In his earlier comments, Vance had accused the media of turning it into a "big story", stressing that it was "not particularly unusual" for Hegseth's generals to meet him in person. In his own comments, US Vice-President JD Vance had accused the media of turning the meeting into a "big story", stressing that it was "not particularly unusual" for Hegseth's generals to meet him in person.
Some observers disagreed. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, an Italian admiral who serves as the chair of the Nato Military Committee, was quoted by the AP news agency as saying: "As far as my 49 years of service, I've never seen that before."Some observers disagreed. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, an Italian admiral who serves as the chair of the Nato Military Committee, was quoted by the AP news agency as saying: "As far as my 49 years of service, I've never seen that before."
Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank told Reuters: "It is mystifying why this was not done virtually so that senior officers don't have to spend a lot of time travelling."Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank told Reuters: "It is mystifying why this was not done virtually so that senior officers don't have to spend a lot of time travelling."
Mr Cancian went on to speculate that Hegseth felt his points would have more force if they were made in person.Mr Cancian went on to speculate that Hegseth felt his points would have more force if they were made in person.
During his tenure as defence secretary, Hegseth has made much of the need to instil a "warrior ethos" in American troops, and championed a rebrand for his government division from the Department of Defense to the Department of War. During his tenure as defence secretary, Hegseth has made much of the need for a "warrior ethos", and championed a rebrand for his government division from the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
The exact number of expected attendees on Tuesday is unclear, but reportedly could total over 800, including officers drawn from military installations as far as Europe, South Korea and the Middle East.
Many of the officers arrived hours before the event, and were seated in the auditorium according to their branch of service - Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, easily distinguishable by uniforms.
Many of them wore campaign medals showing they had served in Afghanistan, Iraq or the American wider war on terror that was launched following the September 11 attacks in 2001.
As well as the generals, the audience comprised the senior-most enlisted officers from various US units around the world - meaning the individuals who serve as a commanding officer's main personnel adviser for their respective units.
Watch: "America is back", says Pete Hegseth on Department of Defense rebrandingWatch: "America is back", says Pete Hegseth on Department of Defense rebranding