A military all-hands meeting is not unusual in itself. But when Donald Trump and his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issue the invitation, it looks less like a sober briefing and more like a political spectacle. Today such a summit is scheduled in Virginia - and already discontent is stirring behind the scenes. Political analyst David Rothkopf, a longtime observer of U.S. foreign and security policy, spoke of an experiment that could turn into a fiasco. He said he had spoken with generals, admirals, and people close to them. Their judgment of the event is already frosty. "I can tell you: It is not going down well," said Rothkopf.
Senators Tammy Duckworth and Mazie Hirono accuse Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of convening a risky and costly mass gathering of senior military leaders in Quantico without a clear purpose. They criticize the misuse of the military for political ends, the removal of experienced commanders, and Hegseth’s mishandling of classified information. The planned meeting would concentrate more than 1,000 officers and staff in one place, creating an attractive target for adversaries. The senators demand detailed information on costs, funding, security risks, and potential impacts on ongoing operations. They question why no virtual alternative was chosen and why the purpose has not been made public. In modern U.S. history, there has been no comparable meeting without a declared crisis. They request a full briefing or written response by September 29, 2025.
The planned meeting of President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth with hundreds of senior officers in Quantico is considered unprecedented and is causing unease within the military. The Pentagon has released few details, while some officials suggest it is meant to promote Trump’s concept of the “warrior ethos.” All generals and admirals in command positions have been invited, along with their senior enlisted leaders, including the heads of global combatant commands. The costs and security risks are enormous, which is why Senators Duckworth and Hirono criticized the event in a letter as dangerous, expensive, and lacking a clear purpose. Observers expect that while the officers will attend, they will do so with restrained discipline to signal that their loyalty lies with the Constitution, not with any one man.
That Trump and Hegseth of all people want to use a meeting with the military leadership to stage a kind of "pep rally" meets with incomprehension. For those who have spent decades in service, such a gathering is expected to provide strategic clarity, not pep talks. The signal to the officers: not sober analysis but loyalty is at the forefront. This is precisely where the break lies, as Rothkopf emphasizes. The U.S. military lives on professionalism, on a clear chain of command and on trust in the integrity of leadership. When a president undermines these principles in order to present himself as the untouchable commander in chief, mistrust remains. Even before the first sentence is spoken on stage, it is clear that the meeting will not bridge the rift between Trump and his general staff.
The summit in Virginia has not yet begun, but one thing is already emerging: it could contribute less to strengthening the armed forces than to deepening the rift between a politically driven leadership and an officer corps that refuses to be reduced to extras in a circus of vanities.
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