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Today is the military assembly called by Secretary of War Hegseth. The exact reason is unknown, which causes discontent...
There has been speculation for days about why US President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called a meeting with US military leadership on Tuesday (September 30). According to experts, the meeting could include further cuts to the US military. Just in May, Secretary of Defense Hegseth announced significant cuts to the number of four-star generals and admirals on active duty.
The meeting, scheduled to take place at Quantico Air Force Base in Virginia, is causing unrest in the US military.
"A motivational rally in Virginia led by a few idiots is not what the U.S. government or the U.S. military needs right now," political analyst David Rothkopf said in a podcast with The Daily Beast.
A "motivational rally" is a motivational event in the US, typically held at schools and universities to build enthusiasm and school spirit before a sporting event.
Based on his conversations with several generals, admirals and other sources close to them, Rotkopf predicts that the highly unusual meeting with all personnel on the Virginia will not be well received.
Military personnel stationed in the US and abroad have already traveled to Quantico for the meeting. According to a CNN report, hundreds of generals and admirals are expected to attend.
"I can tell you: this is not a good thing," he told Daily Beast editor-in-chief Hugh Dougherty, adding "it will be seen as a waste of time and it's offensive to them on a very fundamental level."
Hegseth called the meeting last week without giving a specific reason. It was later revealed that the mysterious meeting was essentially a photo op, with the former Fox News host scheduled to give a speech on the "warrior ethos."
"It's meant to be a show of force that shows what the new military looks like under the president," a White House official told CNN.
Trump repeatedly describes himself as a president of "peace."
However, he recently appointed Hegseth as "Secretary of War."
Trump is also deploying the military domestically in cities like Los Angeles and Washington. The president has now also ordered a deployment of the National Guard to Portland. The city and the US state of Oregon are opposing the move.
In addition to the cuts, the Secretary of War may announce new requirements for the US military.
The Republican is also expected to outline a new vision for the U.S. military, three sources told CNN. He is expected to discuss new standards for readiness, fitness and training that officers must adhere to and implement.
The meeting is expected to be attended by 800 generals and admirals, while the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, is located about 30 minutes south of Washington.
According to CNN, the hundreds of generals and flag officers invited were not told why they were being asked to drop everything and travel to Virginia. But according to a defense official, it was made abundantly clear to the U.S. military personnel summoned by Hegseth that they would have to provide a very compelling reason for their absence.
The atmosphere ahead of the meeting is appropriately tense. In recent years, Hegseth, an Army veteran, has repeatedly expressed his disdain for generals and flag officers, accusing them of introducing “smart” policies into American military culture.
"This guy is the least qualified Secretary of Defense in our history," Rothkopf said, adding, "and he, of all people, plans to lecture the career leaders of our military."
The White House reacted angrily to Rothkopf's statements.
According to The Daily Beast, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, when asked about Rothkopf's statements, said: "This nameless idiot has never served anything but his checkbook, and no one cares what he has to say about decorated war veteran Secretary Pete Hegseth or the warrior ethos."
Tuesday's meeting is also being covered in Russian media. The Russian daily Kommersant wrote about the meeting in Virginia: "Senior military officials, without disclosing their names, have told the media that it is related to the Pentagon's move to streamline command structures."
According to the newspaper, fears of purges in the military are also being exacerbated by concerns about the new US budget.
Funding for the US government will stop on October 1 if Congress fails to pass a budget bill or create a funding bridge by midnight on September 30. A government shutdown would put up to 400,000 Pentagon civilian employees on leave, while active-duty soldiers would have to continue working but would not receive back pay until the shutdown ends, Politico reports.
The meeting is scheduled to last one hour. / Adapted Pamphlet/
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