Recently, a special gathering took place in Virginia, where hundreds of high-ranking generals and admirals assembled to hear from President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Their reactions, however, were mixed and not entirely positive.
Among the most vocal critics of this event has been Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who hasn’t held back in his criticisms.
According to various sources, on September 30, a sudden directive called together military leaders from bases around the world for a meeting with no clear agenda.
This unusual directive meant that key military leaders had to travel from far and wide, including from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, amidst worries it might forewarn significant changes — including possible personnel reductions.
The inclusion of a speech by Donald Trump did little to alleviate these concerns.
Remarks on Military Standards
As the meeting commenced at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth outlined his vision for the future of the armed forces.
His speech grabbed attention, especially with his stance against “woke” practices within the military, targeting aspects ranging from grooming standards to integrating women fully in combat roles.
“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape or in combat units where females can’t meet the physical standards required for men,” Hegseth stated.
Hegseth didn’t stop there; he criticized what he described as ‘overweight generals and admirals’ in the Pentagon and questioned the Biden administration’s push for increased diversity within the military.
These comments, and the meeting itself, received widespread criticism.
An anonymous defense official remarked, “It was more akin to a press conference than a proper briefing,” voicing to Politico the sentiment that “a simple email would have sufficed.”
Concerns Over Security
Additionally, concerns were raised about the significant security risk posed by gathering so many high-ranking officers in one location. Hegseth’s attempt to enhance the military’s image through more stringent grooming and diversity policies also faced skepticism.
A former senior defense official emphasized the meeting’s futility, noting the risk in concentrating central command personnel in a publicly known setting for a message deemed by many as lacking substance.
Meanwhile, President Trump used the opportunity to cover various topics in his address, stirring further controversy with his reference to “two N words.” (The second one, by the way, is nuclear.)
