On September 30, hundreds of generals and admirals were summoned unexpectedly to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, pulling senior military leaders from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The vague order immediately sparked rumors of impending cuts or firings, compounded by the news that former President Donald Trump would address the gathering.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth opened the meeting with a harsh critique of what he called “woke” policies, targeting grooming and fitness standards, questioning women’s roles in combat, and criticizing “overweight generals and admirals” at the Pentagon. He dismissed diversity initiatives from the previous administration. Many attendees found the tone inappropriate, with one defense official likening the session to a press conference rather than a briefing, remarking that it “could have been an email.”

Beyond the rhetoric, the decision to concentrate so many top officers at a publicly announced time and place drew criticism as a serious security risk. A former senior defense official called the event “a waste of time” and “an inexcusable strategic risk” for a message lacking substance.

Trump’s remarks were wide-ranging and controversial, including a repeated phrase referencing “two N words” (the second being “nuclear”). The strongest reactions came after the event, notably from retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling. Speaking publicly, Hertling said Hegseth’s speech shamed the military and risked asking leaders to violate their oath. He stressed that while some proposals—like stricter fitness standards—were legitimate, others, such as broad judgments about women in combat or illegal orders, would not be executed.

Hertling emphasized a key leadership principle: “praise in public, discipline in private.” He argued that the public scolding at Quantico broke this rule, damaging trust between the military and the public.