In a rare and highly controversial meeting at the Quantico military base, US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed hundreds of top military officials, igniting widespread debate. The session, called abruptly by Hegseth, focused on restoring what they termed the "warrior ethos" and reforming military culture away from political correctness, described by Hegseth as ending the “woke” era at the Pentagon.

Trump stated that the military must be prepared to fight "internal enemies" and suggested that some US cities governed by Democrats were dangerous enough to be used as "training grounds" for military operations. This rhetoric sparked concerns about the potential militarization of domestic affairs and political weaponization of the armed forces. He also claimed that crime is rising in these cities, despite statistics showing otherwise.

Hegseth delivered sharp critiques of military leadership, including disparaging comments about "fat generals" and stressing that only the "fittest" personnel should be accepted for combat roles. He defended moves to remove diversity and inclusion programs, ban beards (which could affect African American soldiers with skin conditions), and argued against accommodations for transgender soldiers. He advocated uniform physical fitness standards, equal for men and women, with the goal of enhancing lethality, and called for officers who disagree with the administration’s vision to resign.

The speeches were met with muted reactions from the mostly silent, decorum-bound audience of generals and admirals. Some senior officials criticized the meeting as a politically charged distraction from real military threats, and concerns were voiced about the security risks and expense of gathering so many senior officers in one place.

The event has been widely characterized as a campaign-style address and a manifestation of partisan culture war issues entering military affairs, with critics highlighting the potential damage to military morale and institutional integrity.

In summary, the Quantico meeting reflected a stark shift in military leadership style under Trump and Hegseth, emphasizing strict physical standards and ideological conformity, while signaling increased involvement of the military in domestic political complexities