Overview

• More than 800 generals, admirals and senior enlisted advisers were ordered to attend the in-person summit, where the audience showed little visible reaction and largely sat silent.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a return to the highest male standard for all combat arms roles, stricter grooming rules including a no‑beards policy, and twice‑yearly fitness tests for all ranks.
• He said he would end anonymous complaints and rework Inspector General and Equal Opportunity processes to “liberate” commanders, while reviewing hazing and bullying definitions to give leaders more latitude.
• Hegseth urged loosening rules of engagement to prioritize “maximum lethality,” denigrated retired senior officers by name, and told any dissenting leaders they should resign.
• President Donald Trump framed the U.S. as facing an “invasion from within,” suggested using cities as military “training grounds,” and defended expanded domestic deployments, prompting bipartisan criticism and legal questions.