Hundreds of generals and admirals were abruptly summoned to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, on September 30 for a hastily arranged meeting that pulled senior leaders from around the world. The lack of explanation—and the news that Donald Trump would address them—immediately fueled speculation of major shake-ups.
When the meeting opened, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a blunt speech outlining his vision for the force. He attacked what he called “woke” policies, criticized grooming and fitness standards, questioned women in certain combat roles, and mocked “overweight generals and admirals.” His remarks, echoing Trump’s campaign rhetoric, drew swift backlash from attendees.
One defense official said the gathering “felt more like a press conference than briefing the generals” and “could have been an email.” Many criticized the decision to assemble so many senior officers in one publicly known location, calling it a needless security risk.
Former defense officials labeled the event “a waste of time” and “an inexcusable strategic risk” for an “inane message of little merit.” The gathering, they said, distracted commanders from urgent global missions for the sake of political theater.
Trump’s own comments were characteristically freewheeling, including a reprise of his “two N words” line about “nuclear.” But the real shock came afterward, as officers privately voiced anger and disbelief at the spectacle.
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling spoke publicly, calling the speech “a public shaming of the force.” He warned that some of Hegseth’s points—like improving readiness—were legitimate, but others crossed professional lines.
Hertling emphasized that officers “will not execute illegal orders” and said many were “personally embarrassed” by the televised dressing-down. The event, he argued, violated the spirit of military leadership.
“You praise in public and discipline in private,” Hertling said. “At Quantico, they did the opposite—turning leadership into spectacle.”