WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would tell a gathering of senior US generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, that they are “cherished leaders” who must remain strong, tough, smart, and compassionate.
The event, convened by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, will bring together top military officials from around the world at the Marine Corps University in Quantico on Tuesday — a rare in-person assembly of the country’s high command.
“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.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, had planned to address the leaders on the importance of maintaining a “warrior ethos” throughout the US military and discuss related initiatives. Analysts suggest Trump’s appearance could overshadow Hegseth’s message.
The United States maintains troops globally, including in South Korea, Japan, and across the Middle East, commanded by two-, three-, and four-star generals and admirals. The logistics of bringing senior officials to Quantico, many of whom require official US military aircraft, is expected to cost millions of dollars, prompting questions about why a virtual meeting could not suffice.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the “Department of War,” reversing a title change from post-World War II aimed at emphasising the Pentagon’s role in preventing conflict.
Since assuming office, Hegseth has moved quickly to restructure the department, including removing top generals and admirals, while implementing Trump’s national security priorities and dismantling diversity initiatives that he has criticised as discriminatory.
The gathering at Quantico is expected to attract senior US military leadership from across the globe, with officials flying into Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before proceeding to Virginia.
