Trump Says He’ll Attend Hegseth’s Gathering of Generals to Tout Military Successes

Trump Says He’ll Attend Hegseth’s Gathering of Generals to Tout Military Successes

Washington September 12, 2025 President Donald Trump confirmed in an interview Friday that he plans to personally attend Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unusual mass gathering of top U.S. military commanders, saying he intends to boost morale and remind them of “how well we’re doing militarily.”

The event, which multiple Pentagon officials have described as unprecedented in scope, is set for next week at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Hegseth has billed it as a lecture on the “warrior ethos,” but some inside the Defense Department worry the meeting could double as a loyalty test.

Trump’s Message

Speaking with NBC News, Trump previewed his remarks to the assembled generals and admirals.

“You know the expression esprit de corps? That’s all it’s about,” Trump said. “We’ve rebuilt the military, we’ve made it strong again, and I’m going to tell them how well we’re doing. Morale is everything.”

The president dismissed speculation that the gathering could lead to firings or demotions, saying instead it would be “a celebration of America’s strength.”

Pentagon Unease

Still, the size and format of the meeting has raised eyebrows. Defense secretaries rarely summon the Joint Chiefs and dozens of combatant commanders at once, and several senior officers privately questioned why such a lecture was necessary.

“It feels more like a political rally than a professional briefing,” one retired general said, noting that Trump’s decision to attend in person only heightens that impression.

Others, however, welcomed the attention, arguing that the rank and file benefit when civilian leaders show up in visible ways. “If it’s about morale, that’s not a bad thing,” said a former Pentagon official.

Political and Military Context

The gathering comes as Trump continues to clash with allies in NATO, spar over defense budgets in Congress, and navigate tensions abroad, including in Ukraine and the South China Sea.

Hegseth, a longtime Trump ally and Fox News personality before becoming defense secretary, has emphasized restoring a sense of traditional warrior values in the military. His critics accuse him of politicizing the Pentagon and using its institutions to burnish Trump’s image.

Centrist View

From a centrist perspective, the planned meeting underscores the fine line between boosting morale and blurring civil–military norms. On one hand, a president encouraging esprit de corps can remind service members their work is valued. On the other, mass gatherings of generals under political scrutiny risk appearing less about unity and more about control.

As one military analyst put it, “How this event is remembered will depend not on the speeches but on the aftermath, whether it reassures the force or deepens concerns about politicization.”