President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth rallied hundreds of generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico Tuesday, vowing to eliminate political distractions and refocus the U.S. military exclusively on warfighting.
Nearly 800 top military leaders from around the world were ordered to Virginia for the unprecedented gathering. Hegseth spoke first, calling for an end to what he called “woke” culture that had infiltrated the Department of War under previous leadership.
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive, don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now,” Hegseth said. “This administration has done a great deal from day one to remove the social justice, politically correct, and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department, to rip out the politics.”
Hegseth announced the military would focus solely on combat readiness under its new designation as the Department of War, a name change ordered by Trump.;
“From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: Warfighting, preparing for war, and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit. Not because we want war, no one here wants war. But it’s because we love peace,” Hegseth said. “To ensure peace, we must prepare for war.”
Hegset said the department had lost its way and become the “woke department.”
“No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship, no more division, distraction, or gender delusions, no more debris,” Hegseth said. “We are done with that shit.”
Hegseth issued new directives requiring all service members to pass physical fitness tests twice yearly and meet height and weight requirements, including generals and admirals. He raised physical standards to a “male level” for all combat positions, toughened grooming standards, and ended restrictions on hazing for boot camp recruits.
“If the Secretary of War can do regular hard PT, so can every member of our joint force. Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops,” Hegseth said. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the Halls of the Pentagon and leading commands around the country and the world. It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”
Hegseth banned beards and long hair. “No more beardos,” he said. “The era of unacceptable appearance is over.”
“Simply put, if you do not meet the male level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test or don’t want to shave and look professional, it’s time for a new position or a new profession,” Hegseth said.
The defense secretary ordered a full review of the Pentagon’s definition of “toxic leadership, bullying and hazing to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second guessing.”
“If that makes me toxic,” Hegseth said, “then so be it.”
Here is the full speech — and some of the most memoriable highlights —
Full speech –
Here is our Secretary of War addressing our military leadership.
It's long, but worth watching.
This is exactly what our military needs; a return to the winning principles of merit, common sense, and a focus on war fighting.
If I were a young man, this is what would make me want… pic.twitter.com/uhJROVZwOO— Stephen Decatur (@Decatur1804) September 30, 2025
Fat generals are unacceptable –
Secretary Hegseth to military leaders: "It is unacceptable to see fat generals" pic.twitter.com/nSXkt6TBPZ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 30, 2025
Tells our enemies to “F*** Around and Find Out” –
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth with a DIRECT message to our enemies:
"FAFO. If necessary, our troops can translate that for you."
Let’s go 🔥
pic.twitter.com/sL3042qhDe— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 30, 2025
No more DEI or climate worship –
JUST IN – Secretary of War Hegseth: "No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses, no more climate change worship, no more division, distraction or gender delusion, no more debris. I've said before and will say again, we are done with that shit…" pic.twitter.com/4JQ6daMqRt
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 30, 2025
Trump followed Hegseth, saying his administration would back military leaders as they restore the military’s focus.
“Together, we’re reawakening the warrior spirit,” Trump said. The U.S. military will be “stronger, tougher, faster, fiercer and more powerful than it has ever been before.”
Trump said his administration is committing $1 trillion in 2026 for the military.
Before departing the White House for Quantico, Trump acknowledged the cost of convening military leaders in person but said it was necessary.
“There’s a little bit of expense to that. We don’t like to waste them. We’d rather spend it on bullets and rockets, frankly,” Trump said. “But this was the one time we had to do a great spiritizing. It’s going to be great. I’ve seen it already. We have every general, every admiral. We have great people. We have our real warriors over there.”
The president said his administration told the Pentagon to eliminate politically correct hiring practices.
“We went through political correct where you had to have people who were totally unfit to be doing what you’re doing,” Trump said. “Now it’s all based on merit.”