From Nobel Prizes to tariffs, Trump spoke at length, while Hegseth railed against “fat generals” and unveiled sweeping new directives.
Hundreds of generals and admirals were summoned from around the world last week, called to an unusual meeting Tuesday with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia — a gathering whose purpose was left unstated until the moment they arrived.
Hegseth used the occasion to trumpet a new name, the Department of War, and to denounce what he called “toxic leaders” who, in his telling, had watered down standards and transformed the Pentagon into the “woke department.”
He unveiled ten new directives, ranging from tougher physical fitness and fresh grooming rules to a return to “the highest male standard” for combat arms. In one of his most pointed moments, Hegseth turned his fire on the appearance of the force itself.
“It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the world. It’s a bad look,” he said. “Fat troops,” he added, have no place in combat formations.
President Trump also addressed the assembled brass, declaring, “Together, we’re reawakening the warrior spirit.” His remarks, which stretched for more than an hour, touched not only on defense but on the Nobel Peace Prize, ongoing talks between Israel and Hamas, and even his fondness for tariffs.
The president pledged an unprecedented $1 trillion in military spending for 2026, a promise of renewal, even as uncertainty lingered.
Neither Trump nor Hegseth spoke to the looming government shutdown. Active-duty troops, they reminded, will still report for duty, but their pay will be delayed until Washington resolves its impasse.
Watch President Trump’s Remarks Below:
WATCH: President Donald Trump Address Military Leaders at Quantico – 9/30/25 pic.twitter.com/M997FZ92k3
— RSBN 🇺🇸 (@RSBNetwork) September 30, 2025
