US President Donald Trump and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have attacked diversity narratives in the military at a rare gathering of commanders summoned from around the world, while the US president recommended using "dangerous" US cities as military training grounds.
Referencing Democrat-led cities that he claims have high levels of crime, Trump said he told Hegseth that the US "should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military."
He acknowledged discomfort among his opponents for deploying the military on US streets, but said America was in the grips of what he described as a war from within waged by immigrants in the country illegally who his administration is seeking to deport.
"America is under invasion from within. We're under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don't wear uniforms," Trump said.
In his own remarks, Hesgeth, a former Fox News personality, criticised overweight military leaders and said diversity initiatives had led to decades of decay in the military. He also told the assembled admirals and generals in Quantico, Virginia, that they should resign if they did not support his agenda.
"Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the 'Woke Department'," Hegseth said as he kicked off the event. "But not anymore."
Hegseth defended his firings of flag officers, including the top US general, who is Black, and the Navy's top admiral, who is a woman. He said the officers he relieved were part of a broken culture.
He promised sweeping changes to how the Pentagon handles discrimination complaints and investigates accusations of wrongdoing. He said the current system has top brass walking on "egg shells".
"If the words I'm speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honourable thing and resign," Hegseth said.
"I know the overwhelming majority of you feel the opposite. These words make your hearts full."
Pete Hesgeth (left) and Donald Trump addressed an auditorium full of top brass who flew in from around the world. Source: Getty / Andrew Harnik
'Unacceptable to see fat generals'
Hegseth criticised the look of overweight troops, saying: "It's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon."
He said all fitness tests would be set to male benchmarks only and emphasised the importance of grooming standards.
"The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos," Hegseth told the audience, which sat in silence.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Source: Getty / Andrew Harnik
"You're all based on merit. We're not going to have somebody taking your place for political reasons, because they are politically correct and you're not," Trump said.
"I am with you. I support you, and as president, I have your backs 100 per cent," he added.
In a speech that lasted more than an hour, Trump also said that if the commanders "don't like what I'm saying, you can leave the room. Of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future," he added.
As Trump departed for the event from the White House on Tuesday, he told reporters that he would fire military leaders on the spot if he did not like them.
But then at the event he spoke warmly of the military, in sometimes-wandering remarks that touched on issues like the prowess of US nuclear submarines but also included fierce criticism of the media, former President Joe Biden and Venezuela.
As Trump spoke, several officers sat looking expressionless, and the room was far quieter than the crowds at Trump's usual gatherings. A naval officer took notes.
After his speech, Trump departed the auditorium, and there did not appear to be any one-on-one meeting with the assembled military leaders.
Democrats condemn the military event
The US military is meant to be apolitical, loyal to the US Constitution and independent of any party or political movement. That creates pressure on the commanders to avoid reacting to overtly political comments, by Trump or Hegseth.
Democrats broadly condemned the event, which they said sought to drive partisan politics deep into the US military.
"It signals that partisan loyalty matters more than capability, judgement, or service to the Constitution, undermining the principle of a professional, nonpartisan military," said Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate's armed services committee.
"Anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies to be 'taken out' is not fit to lead the nation," Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, wrote on X.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stands at attention during an advanced honour cordon at the Pentagon in September. Source: Getty / Anna Moneymaker
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense the 'Department of War', a change that will require congressional approval.
The administration has announced a plan to send National Guard deployments to Chicago, the latest US city where Trump aims to deploy US troops despite objections from local authorities.
Trump announced plans to send National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, over the weekend and sent Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles earlier this year, despite protests from local officials.
