Trump, Hegseths addresses to military leaders shocking and offensive: Ret. Lt. Gen. Hertling
MSNBC1 day
Trump and Hegseth Address Military Leaders
Above: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. President Donald Trump at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va., on Sept. 30, 2025. Image copyright: Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This costly spectacle wasted resources and created security risks by gathering hundreds of top military leaders for partisan speeches resembling campaign rallies — an unserious distraction that could have been an email. The focus on hygiene standards and weight, while threatening domestic military deployments showcases this administration's dangerous and dysfunctional priorities that undermine actual national security.
Republican narrative
President Trump's military address delivered exactly what America's armed forces needed to hear. The president assured military leaders of his unwavering support while Secretary Hegseth announced crucial reforms to eliminate woke policies and restore warrior standards. This wasn't about partisanship — it was about rebuilding military excellence through fitness, merit and lethality over political correctness.