President Donald Trump is set to meet with hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals from across the globe at a highly unusual gathering on a military base near Washington.
The event, convened by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has fueled speculation due to its unprecedented nature and lack of a formal explanation. Trump, who will deliver remarks at Quantico, expressed enthusiasm, saying: “I like it a lot. It’s wonderful.”
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance downplayed the significance, telling reporters the meeting was “not unusual at all” and questioning the media’s heavy coverage. A Pentagon spokesperson, Sean Parnell, confirmed that Hegseth would address senior officers but offered no further details.
The extraordinary nature of the meeting comes amid growing political involvement of the U.S. military under Trump’s second term. His administration has deployed troops in American cities, ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Houthi targets in Yemen, and faced criticism for lethal operations in the Caribbean.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has also overseen sweeping changes at the Pentagon, which he renamed the “Department of War.” Senior officials, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Charles “CQ” Brown, Navy and Coast Guard leaders, and top legal advisors, have been dismissed or forced to resign.
In May, Hegseth called for a 20% reduction in generals and admirals and a 5% cut in civilian staff, signaling a dramatic restructuring of the U.S. military hierarchy.
The closed-door meeting has sparked questions about whether a major announcement regarding the Pentagon’s future direction is imminent.
