U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth summoned commanders of U.S. military units worldwide to the U.S. mainland and conducted ideological training for about two hours.
According to foreign media including the New York Times (NYT) on the 30th (local time), a "all-commanders conference" was held at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, starting at 8 a.m. that day. President Trump and Minister Hegseth attended the event, and they delivered live-streamed speeches to about 800 general officers for 45 minutes and 1 hour and 10 minutes, respectively.
Earlier, once the summons became known, various speculations circulated over the background and purpose of the event. In particular, concerns were raised that assembling commanders from around the world could create a command vacuum if an emergency were to occur in a specific region, but Minister Hegseth and the Ministry of National Defense did not disclose the specific reason for the summons, which reportedly fueled internal confusion. Some circles even predicted that Minister Hegseth might announce large-scale dismissals or demotions.
However, in the end, the event appears to have had little in the way of meaningful content such as a new security strategy. Rather, it is seen as being dominated by ideological training aimed at eradicating the "leftist ideology" that the previous Democratic administration allegedly planted within the military.
Minister Hegseth, who spoke first, argued that combat power had been weakened due to "woke" within the military (a term meaning political awareness that carries criticism of excessive political correctness and progressivism), declaring, "I will no longer tolerate it," and he barked, "We must prepare to win wars." He said that soldiers must train their bodies every day and maintain an appropriate appearance.
President Trump also emphasized meritocracy and declared the eradication of woke. He said, "Everything is based on merit. We will not let someone take your place for political reasons," and added, "The structure of our country was designed for political correctness instead of meritocracy. You can never become great that way."
He also stressed that renaming the Ministry of National Defense to the Department of War was "more than a simple brand change; it is a historical reaffirmation of our purpose, identity, and pride."
In his speech, President Trump was also said to have mentioned ▲enhancing nuclear capabilities ▲allocating $1 trillion (about 1,405 trillion won) in the fiscal 2026 military budget ▲building at least 19 warships ▲a 3.8% pay raise for service members.
Before attending the event, as he departed the White House, President Trump told reporters, "If there is someone I don't like, I will fire him on the spot," but a sweeping dismissal of generals was not immediately carried out. However, as he began his speech, he warned, "If you don't like what I say, you can leave the room," adding, "Of course, your rank will be gone, and your future will be gone."
However, Minister Hegseth suggested in his speech that there would be a sweeping shake-up of senior military positions going forward. "I am convinced there will be more changes in leadership in the future," Minister Hegseth said, adding, "If what I am saying today weighs on your heart, you should make an honorable decision and resign."