Trump vows ‘stronger, tougher’ military as Pete Hegseth blasts ‘fat generals’ in Pentagon halls

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA: On September 30, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gathered the military’s top leaders in Quantico, Virginia, to unveil a sweeping 10-point plan.

His message focused on restoring strict physical standards and returning to a culture he called merit-based. President Donald Trump followed Hegseth’s remarks, promising historic investment to build a stronger and tougher military.

Pete Hegseth says no room for ‘fat generals and admirals’ 

In a fierce speech, Hegseth told the nation’s senior-most officers that every service member must meet physical requirements twice a year.

He said it was “completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world.”

“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 leading commands around the country and the world.” He added, “It’s a bad look. It is bad, and it’s not who we are.”

Pete Hegseth says military standards should be 'gender-neutral, and high'

Hegseth reinforced his message by reminding the officers, “It all starts with physical fitness and appearance. If the secretary of War can do regular, hard PT [physical training], so can every member of our joint force.”

He added, “Today, at my direction, every member of the joint force, at every rank, is required to take a PT test twice a year, as well as meet height and weight requirements twice a year, every year of service.”

“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out shape, or in a combat unit with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men, or troops who are not fully proficient on their assigned weapons, platform, or task, or under a leader who was the first but not the best,” Hegseth said.

“Standards must be uniform, gender-neutral, and high," he said.

Trump pledges record defense investment and stronger military

Trump told the assembled generals and admirals that his administration would invest heavily to make the military tougher.

“Together over the next few years we’re going to make our military stronger, tougher, faster, fiercer and more powerful than it has ever been before,” he said.

He also called defending the homeland the military’s most vital mission. “Defending our homeland is the military’s first and most important priority,” Trump said. “We are under invasion from within, and we are stopping it very quickly,” he added.

The deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee, has been part of the administration’s push to address crime in US cities. 

Trump jokes with generals, warns critics about ‘future’

Before heading to Quantico, Trump told the press, “If I don’t like somebody, I’m gonna fire them right on the spot.”

When he entered the hall, he noted the subdued atmosphere. “I’ve never walked into a room so silent before. This is very — don’t laugh, don’t leave. You’re not allowed to do that,” he said to the audience, who began to chuckle.

“You know what? Just have a good time. And if you want to applaud, you applaud. And if you want to do anything you want — you can do anything you want. If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room. Because there goes your rank, there goes your future,” Trump added.