Trump and Hegseth Convene U.S. Generals Worldwide to Reinforce Discipline: "Eradicating Leftist Ideology"

Criticism of "Woke" Culture... Emphasis on Meritocracy
"No Tolerance for Overweight Generals"
"Nuclear Capabilities to Be Strengthened"... Trump Administration Highlights Achievements

President Donald Trump of the United States and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth convened commanders of U.S. military bases from around the world on the U.S. mainland for an "All-Forces Commanders Conference." Addressing approximately 800 active-duty generals for about two hours, they sought to reinforce discipline. While there was speculation that new defense strategies or a reorganization of the U.S. military might be announced, no such content was presented. Instead, the focus was on ideological education, with calls to eradicate the "leftist ideology" of the previous Joe Biden administration and to inspire genuine warrior spirit.

On September 30 (local time), the Trump administration held the All-Forces Commanders Conference at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by Reuters-Yonhap News

This event was highly unusual, drawing significant attention regarding its purpose once news of the summons became public. Since gathering all U.S. military commanders in one place could create a command vacuum and hinder immediate responses to emergencies in specific regions, such large-scale meetings are not common practice. Furthermore, as Secretary Hegseth and the Department of Defense did not clarify the reason for the assembly, rumors circulated about possible reductions in the number of generals and other speculations, fueling confusion within the military.

Secretary Hegseth was the first to address the audience, stating that "woke" culture within the military had weakened combat readiness and that he would not tolerate it.

He declared, "We became the woke department, but no more," adding, "We have promoted too many military leaders for the wrong reasons-based on their race, gender quotas, or so-called 'firsts' in history."

Secretary Hegseth announced that, effective immediately, all branches would revert to "the highest male standard" for all requirements and that basic military training would be strengthened. He also stated that all service members, regardless of rank, must pass the Physical Training (PT) test twice a year and that appearances unsuitable for soldiers, such as beards or long hair, would not be permitted. He emphasized, "I will never tolerate seeing overweight generals and admirals in the Pentagon corridors," and advised those who fail to meet these standards to seek new careers.

He also declared, "The era of the 'Department of Defense' is over," and emphasized, "From this moment, the sole mission of the newly restored 'Department of War' is to wage war, prepare for war, and get ready to win." Previously, President Trump had instructed that the term "Department of Defense" be replaced with "Department of War," arguing that the former was an outgrowth of woke ideology.

President Trump then delivered a 72-minute speech. Like Secretary Hegseth, President Trump stressed that the U.S. military must focus solely on strengthening combat power, not on woke agendas such as racial and gender equality, emphasizing "meritocracy." He stated, "We are refocusing on physical fitness, ability, character, and strength, because the purpose of the U.S. military is not to protect someone's feelings, but to defend the Republic we love." He further emphasized, "Everything is based on merit. We will not let anyone take your place for political reasons."

Regarding the renaming of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, he explained, "This is more than just a brand change; it is a historical reaffirmation of our purpose, identity, and pride."

The Trump administration also promoted its policies. "I rebuilt our nuclear arsenal, and we will upgrade it further," he declared, pledging to strengthen America's nuclear capabilities.

He also mentioned his recent directive to deploy two nuclear submarines in response to Russia's nuclear threats, and claimed that U.S. submarine technology is 25 years ahead of Russia and China. President Trump, keeping these countries in check, stated, "They are catching up. Their nuclear capabilities are far behind, but in five years, they will be on par with us."

President Trump underscored the legitimacy of his immigration enforcement policies, saying, "Together with you here, we have restored the fundamental principle that 'homeland defense is the military's first and most important priority.' America is being invaded from within. After spending trillions of dollars to secure our borders, we are now, with your help, defending our borders and rapidly stopping internal invasions." He added that deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and other cities has led to a decrease in crime rates.

He also highlighted his diplomatic achievements. President Trump urged the Palestinian militant group Hamas to agree to his "Gaza Peace Initiative" announced the previous day. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, he said that the leaders of both countries should be brought together to resolve the issue, but "the only way to achieve this is through strength."

Regarding his potential to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he stated, "They will give it to someone who did nothing," adding, "That would be a great insult to our country." He also said, "I want our country (the United States) to receive the Nobel Peace Prize."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.