U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested using American cities as “training grounds” for the military, describing “civil disturbances” as an “enemy from within” during an address to hundreds of senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
Trump said the military’s involvement would prevent unrest from escalating, following recent deployments of National Guard troops to Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Portland to support crime control and immigration enforcement.
The president criticized Democratic-led cities including San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, stating they were “very unsafe” and vowing to “straighten them out one by one.” He framed the policy as part of a broader effort to secure U.S. borders and national security.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke before Trump, announcing that the U.S. military will now require combatants to meet the “highest male standard” in physical fitness tests, a move he acknowledged could exclude some women. He emphasized that standards would be “uniform, gender neutral, and high.”
Hegseth also outlined plans for a cultural shift at the Pentagon, promoting a “warrior ethos” and ending what he called an era of “unprofessional appearances,” including beard exemptions. He criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and said they had contributed to a “risk-averse” officer corps distracted by political concerns.
Addressing his prior firing of senior commanders, Hegseth stated that he acted based on instinct, removing officers unwilling to shift away from policies of previous administrations. He hinted that further leadership changes are expected.
Trump praised Hegseth’s reforms, saying the focus on “fitness, ability, and character” was intended to “protect our country” rather than “anyone’s feelings,” and celebrated his rebranding of the Defense Department as the “Department of War,” claiming it boosted military recruitment.
The address drew little visible reaction from the assembled generals and senior enlisted personnel, who remained largely silent, though many took notes. Trump acknowledged the quiet with humor, saying, “I’ve never walked into a room so silent before,” before highlighting a renewed “warrior spirit” in the U.S. military.
Trump also discussed his foreign policy record, claiming to have “settled” seven wars and suggesting he hopes to address an eighth if Hamas agrees to his proposed Gaza peace plan with Israel.
The summit reflected a rare in-person gathering of top U.S. military leadership, with participants from installations worldwide, as Trump and Hegseth sought to outline a vision of discipline, fitness, and renewed military purpose.