Washington – US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he plans to address a rare gathering of senior American generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, telling Reuters he would relay that they are “cherished leaders” who need to be “strong and tough.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned the senior US military leaders from around the world for the meeting in Quantico on Tuesday—an unusual concentration of the country’s top military brass in a single location.
“I want to tell the generals that we love them, they’re cherished leaders, to be strong, be tough and be smart and be compassionate,” Trump told Reuters in an interview. “That’s all that is, esprit de corps. It’s about time somebody did that,” he added.
The President’s attendance could potentially overshadow Secretary Hegseth, who was expected to discuss the need to adhere to a “warrior ethos” throughout the military and may touch upon other areas of his rapidly changing defense agenda. The US military maintains command structures with two-, three-, and four-star generals and admirals commanding troops in global locations, including South Korea, Japan, and across the Middle East.
Secretary Hegseth’s Rapid Reforms
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved with significant speed since his appointment to reshape the defense establishment, reportedly firing top generals and admirals as he attempts to implement the Trump administration’s national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he labels as discriminatory. Hegseth has consistently championed the “warrior ethos” and the necessity for the US military to maintain a warrior mentality in nearly every public address.
Earlier this month, President Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the “Department of War,” reverting to a title it held until after World War Two when officials sought to emphasize the Pentagon’s role in preventing conflict.
Logistics and Cost
Officials informed Reuters that the event is scheduled to take place at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. Senior-most officials, who utilize US military aircraft for official travel, are expected to fly into Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The cost to transport and protect such a large gathering is expected to be at least millions of dollars, leading some to question why the meeting could not have been conducted virtually.
