U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked controversy by calling out “fat generals” and criticizing diversity initiatives within the military. In a speech to senior military leaders, Hegseth announced sweeping changes to how the Pentagon handles discrimination complaints and investigations. He also defended his firings of high-ranking officials who he said were part of a broken culture.
Hegseth’s remarks were met with widespread condemnation from Democrats, who accused him of driving partisan politics into the U.S. military. Trump echoed Hegseth’s views, calling for the deployment of military units to cities across the country as “training grounds.” However, this proposal has been met with fierce criticism from local officials and civil rights groups.
The Pentagon has undergone significant changes since Trump took office, including firings, bans on certain books, and lethal strikes against suspected drug boats. This month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the “Department of War.” The move will require congressional approval.
Trump’s comments on deploying military units to cities have sparked concern about the role of the U.S. military in domestic law enforcement. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has warned that anyone who talks about their fellow Americans as enemies is not fit to lead the nation.
As the U.S. military is meant to be apolitical, the reaction from commanders has been muted. The event, attended by uniformed officials and a large American flag, was seen as unusual given the typical decorum of such gatherings.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-preside-over-unusual-military-gathering-virginia-2025-09-30