On Sunday (September 28), US President Trump announced that he would attend a large gathering of top military leaders from US forces stationed around the world, convened by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Virginia.
The meeting organized by Hegseth is scheduled for Tuesday at a US Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia. Hundreds of senior US military leaders stationed worldwide will convene in person at the same location for face-to-face meetings, rather than holding the conference virtually, a rare occurrence.
In a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump described the meeting as “a very pleasant one,” focusing on the military accomplishments, emphasizing the good state they are currently in, and discussing many positive aspects.
“We have some great people coming, it’s just a team spirit. You know the term ‘team spirit’?” Trump continued to NBC News, “It’s about what we are doing, what they are doing, and how we are doing it now.”
Trump also told Reuters on Sunday, “I want to tell these generals that we love them, they are precious leaders, they need to be strong, resilient, smart, and compassionate.”
“That’s it, team spirit. It’s time for someone to do this,” he added.
The United States has military presence around the world, including in South Korea, Japan, and the entire Middle East, with commanders ranging from two-star, three-star, to four-star generals.
Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order renaming the US Department of Defense to the “Department of War,” reverting to the name the department held during the First and Second World Wars, emphasizing the role of the Pentagon in conflict prevention. The last time the department changed its name was based on the 1947 National Security Act, which received approval from both houses of Congress, establishing the position of Secretary of Defense.
Officials told Reuters that the event is expected to take place at the Marine Corps University in Quantico.
With US military senior leaders stationed worldwide suddenly gathering in one place, and at a time when the Trump administration is making bold reforms to the military, this meeting has garnered significant attention.
(This article referenced reports from Reuters)