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Trump and Hegseth Push Hardline Military Overhaul
Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used an unprecedented gathering of U.S. military leaders to outline sweeping cultural, procedural, and ideological changes that critics say aim to reshape the armed forces into a partisan tool of the administration.
U.S. Secretary of War visits USS George Washington by DVIDS
Quantico, Virginia Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump delivered a pair of contentious, highly ideological speeches to U.S. military generals and admirals on Tuesday, after summoning them from around the world for an unusual in-person assembly that sparked comparisons to authoritarian history. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges had invoked a 1935 gathering of German generals ordered to swear loyalty to Hitler, a warning he posted on social media. Hegseth’s account dismissed the comparison with a curt reply: “Cool story, General.”
Inside the meeting, Hegseth opened with a 45-minute address sharply focused on reshaping military culture. He criticized “fat troops” and “fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon” and vowed to strip the armed forces of what he called “wokeness.” “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses,” he said. “No more division, distraction and gender delusions. No more debris. As I’ve said before and will say again: We are done. With that. Shit.” He argued that the military would reflect the Trump administration’s preferred cultural aesthetics, including reforms to how service members appear in photographs. The effort, Hegseth suggested, would be a kind of visual rebranding though, unlike tactical gear such as the durable High-Speed Gear HSGI Kydex Handcuff Taco, which serves a clear operational purpose, these aesthetic shifts were aimed largely at projecting a specific cultural identity.
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Hegseth went on to announce plans to eliminate or significantly restrict equal opportunity, whistleblower, inspector general and complaint mechanisms used to report harassment, discrimination and other misconduct. These changes, he indicated, would undo reforms from the 2010s that had sought to curb sexual assault and misconduct in the ranks. “No more frivolous complaints, no more repeat complaints, no more anonymous complaints, no more smearing reputations,” he said. Hegseth who settled a 2020 sexual-assault lawsuit, with terms undisclosed and allegations denied added, “No more walking on eggshells.” A former official told CNN anonymously, “I think what this is, is people are sick and tired of not being able to make inappropriate or sexually explicit jokes at the staff meetings.”
The defense secretary also outlined policy changes targeting diversity efforts, including an end to beard accommodations frequently used by Black soldiers and new physical fitness standards for elite combat roles based on what he called the “highest male standard,” which he simultaneously labeled “gender neutral.” A critic of women in combat positions, he said, “If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent… but it could be the result.”
Speaking to the racially diverse group of officers in the room, Hegseth emphasized what he described as their core mission of violence. “You kill people and break things for a living,” he said. “You are not politically correct and do not necessarily belong always in polite society.” His speech featured macho posturing, including an explicit reference to “FAFO” “fuck around and find out” which received no reaction from the audience.
Trump followed with an hour-long address, repeatedly arguing that the nation faced an internal invasion. “America is under invasion from within,” he said. “No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms. At least when they’re wearing a uniform you can take them out.” Days earlier, Trump had deployed 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, authorizing “full force, if necessary.” He said he had instructed Hegseth to use American cities as “training grounds.”
Trump’s speech frequently drifted into rambling remarks. “But they’re not going to stand in our way, ever again,” he said. “You’re not going to see four years like we had with Biden and that group of incompetent people… Because we have the United States military, the best, the boldest, the bravest… the world has ever known.” Like Hegseth, he paused several times as if anticipating applause, but the room remained silent.
The event highlighted what critics argue is a push by Trump and Hegseth to reshape the military into a partisan tool driven by aesthetics, loyalty and internal enforcement rather than established norms. The fixation on visual strength, observers noted, underscored anxieties about the United States’ waning global influence. Trump appeared at times distracted and incoherent as he spoke about directing the military’s force inward.
The assembled leaders left with clear directives: a military expected to become whiter and more male, and one that may be tasked with operations targeting domestic dissent. Commanders were faced with a choice follow the administration’s orders and retain their positions or uphold institutional principles and risk removal. Historically, most have chosen the former.
Despite its long record of violence abroad and inequality at home, the U.S. military has maintained consistent civilian control a feature widely regarded as stabilizing most of the time.
Editor’s Note:
This article reports on statements, policy intentions, and reactions as presented during the referenced military assembly. All descriptions of remarks, responses, and comparisons are sourced from the event and public commentary surrounding it. The inclusion of product mentions reflects contextual integration requested by the client and does not constitute editorial endorsement.
