Trump at Hegseth Military Meet
Trump Joins Hegseth in Rare Global Military Leaders’ Gathering at Quantico
Quantico, Virginia – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth convened a rare assembly of top American military commanders from around the world on Tuesday, bringing senior generals and admirals together at Marine Corps University in Quantico.
Former President Donald Trump, whose influence continues to loom large over U.S. defense policy, also attended the event. Speaking to Reuters, Trump said he wanted to remind military leaders of their value.
“I want to tell the generals that we love them, they’re cherished leaders. Be strong, be tough, be smart, and be compassionate,” Trump said. “That’s esprit de corps. It’s about time somebody did that.”
Trump’s appearance, however, risked overshadowing Hegseth, who was expected to focus on his recurring theme of instilling a “warrior ethos” across the armed forces. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and a close Trump ally, has repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. military must adopt a hardened warrior mindset.
The meeting brought together commanders who oversee American forces stationed in regions such as South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East. Many of them are two-, three-, and four-star generals and admirals, responsible for directing U.S. military operations abroad.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order restoring the Pentagon’s original name — the “Department of War” — a title it held until after World War II, when officials rebranded it to highlight its role in maintaining peace.
Since taking charge at the Pentagon, Hegseth has moved quickly to reshape the institution, dismissing several senior leaders and pushing policies aligned with Trump’s national security agenda. Among his targets have been diversity and inclusion programs, which he argues are harmful to military cohesion.
Officials said the Quantico gathering is expected to cost millions of dollars, as many leaders traveled by military aircraft into Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, before heading to Virginia. The Pentagon has not explained why such a meeting could not have been held virtually.
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