(Doug Mills | The New York Times) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center, and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listen as President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals from around the globe at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va., on Tuesday morning, Sept. 30, 2025. Military officials and historians say the gathering, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke as well, is without precedent in size and scope.
President Trump and War Department Secretary Hegseth held a meeting of hundreds of top U.S. military leaders at Quantico. A poll by independent journalist Michael Smerconish asked: Is there anything inherently wrong with the Department of War secretary summoning senior military leaders to a meeting at Quantico? The response from over 34,000 voters was 63% Yes / 37% No.
As a veteran of the Cold War with 23 years of active duty and Naval Reserve service, I must say it was unprecedented and smacked of a cryptic attempt to politicize the military. I had to marvel at the unflappable demeanor of the assembled generals, admirals and senior staff. Their silence spoke volumes about their apolitical devotion to their oath to defend the Constitution. They affirmed their respect for the office of the president of our democratic republic. Completion of war college is a requirement for promotion to general officer and it is said to be more difficult than law school. Talk about the tail wagging the dog!
Trump spoke of an “enemy within” and of using dangerous U.S. cities as training grounds for the military. The Posse Comitatus Act limits the use of federal troops for law enforcement. His rabid order would call for our military to turn its guns on American citizens instead of protecting them. He ranted about his grievances and spoke of ending seven wars to the audience, some of whom are actually stationed in those countries. They have the true situational awareness of the war zones. Trump later lamented their silence regarding his remarks.
Secretary Hegspeth demonstrated his command presence like he was addressing a platoon of soldiers. He gave a fiery pep talk about a “warrior ethic” and alluded to ignoring established rules of engagement. He was berating his audience in a public setting instead of praising them. His gross incompetence in front of an august group of senior officers should cause him to resign.
Congress must do its job as an equal branch of government instead of enabling Trump to become a dictator. We all know that is his goal.
Trump’s language of insults, grandiosity and gibberish show his patent fragility. A universal public display of protest would be his undoing.
Don Hiddleson, Millcreek