Overview

• The president and Hegseth addressed hundreds of generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico in a convocation Pentagon officials did not clearly explain, following months of leadership removals and cuts to top ranks.
• In a partisan address, Trump called for mobilization against what he labeled the 'enemy of the interior,' targeting undocumented immigrants, the press, Democratic-led cities, and political opponents.
• Trump pointed to a new rapid-reaction military force for civil unrest and defended recent deployments of troops to U.S. cities as part of his domestic security push.
• Hegseth framed an overhaul to roll back diversity initiatives, require short hair and clean shaving, raise physical standards, and apply what he called the 'highest male standard' for combat roles.
• The defense secretary said forces would operate under more permissive rules focused on 'maximum lethality,' criticized the Pentagon inspector general, and urged any officers who object to the changes to resign.