"A War From Within": Trump Politicizes the Military in Speech to Generals as Secretary of War Overhauls the Pentagon

In an unusual address to a gathering of top American Generals and Admirals on Tuesday, President Donald Trump warned that the United States is fighting "a war from within" driven by crime and immigration. The meeting, called by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at Quantico Base in Virginia, saw Trump emphasize the military's role in suppressing civil unrest in Democratic-run cities.

Standing before a massive American flag, Trump declared, "We're going to fix things," explaining that this mission would be "a major part of the work for some of you in this room. It’s a war too, a war from within." He announced he had signed an order to create a military rapid-response force to suppress any civil disturbances, deeming it "the enemy from within" that must be dealt with "before it gets out of control."

Politicization and the Attack on "Woke" Ideology:

While Trump began by talking about reviving the "warrior spirit" within the US Military, the hour-long speech was heavily politicized, deviating from the traditional approach of former presidents who typically avoided domestic political issues when addressing the armed forces. Trump also fiercely attacked the "vicious" press and his Democratic opponents.

For his part, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth strongly criticized the "woke" ideology within the military, saying the forces were "forced, by reckless and unwise politicians, to focus on the wrong things," turning the department into the "Department of Woke," a phenomenon he claimed was now over. Hegseth, who recently renamed his department the "Department of War," stressed his desire to end "ideological nonsense" concerning issues like climate change, bullying, and promotions based on race or gender.

Sweeping Military Overhaul and Leadership Purge:

Hegseth announced new directives emphasizing improved physical fitness, haircuts, and shaving standards. He stated that all service members, regardless of rank, would undergo fitness tests twice a year, deeming the sight of "obese generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon totally unacceptable." He also enforced strict "shaving standards," stating: "If you want a beard, you can join the Special Forces. If you don't, you shave."

These speeches come amid internal and external controversy for the US military, particularly with Trump ordering troop deployments to Los Angeles and Washington to combat civil unrest and crime, with similar actions planned for Portland and Memphis.

Mass Dismissals in Military Leadership:

Hegseth defended the massive purge he ordered in May, which included firing at least 20% of generals and admirals. Since the start of his second term in January, Trump has also dismissed numerous high-ranking officers, most notably Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles "CQ" Brown in February. Hegseth justified the dismissals, arguing, "It's near impossible to change a culture with the same people who helped create it, or even benefited from it."