Trump Proposes Using Military to “Straighten Out” US Cities, Announces Cultural Shift at Pentagon
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A controversial proposal to utilize American cities as “training grounds” for the military was unveiled by former President Donald Trump during an address to hundreds of global military leaders. Trump framed domestic “civil disturbances” as an “enemy from within,” signaling a potential escalation of federal intervention in local law enforcement and a re-evaluation of the military’s role within US borders.
National Guard Deployments and a “War from Within”
The address followed recent deployments of National Guard troops to Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon, ostensibly to address crime and bolster immigration enforcement. Trump reiterated his criticism of Democratic-led cities – including San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles – characterizing them as “very unsafe places” that his administration would “straighten out one by one.” He indicated that this effort would be a “major part” for many in the military, suggesting a shift from conventional overseas deployments to domestic operations.
Pentagon Overhaul and Hegseth’s vision
Trump announced the appointment of conservative media personality Sebastian Hegseth to lead a sweeping overhaul of the Defence Department, aiming to instill a “warrior ethos” and eliminate what he termed “woke ideology.” hegseth outlined a three-tiered system for evaluating leadership – “weak, neutral, and high.”
Hegseth also outlined plans to overhaul departmental policies, ending “unprofessional appearances” – including beard exemptions – and eliminating anonymous complaint procedures. he defended previous firings of senior commanders, stating he acted on “his gut” to remove those resistant to change.”More leadership changes will be made, I’m certain,” he added.
Rebranding and a Focus on “Warrior Ethos”
Trump applauded the move to rebrand the Defence Department as the Department of War, calling it “so popular” and attributing it to rising recruitment numbers. He framed this as a “historic re-assertion of our purpose, our identity and our pride.” The president’s speech broadly focused on revitalizing the US military’s culture, emphasizing training, leadership, and “fixing decades of decay,” including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Trump claimed that officers had been hampered by “climate change distractions,” “woke garbage,” and fear of being labeled as “toxic” leaders. He asserted that a focus on “fitness, ability and character” was not about “protecting anyone’s feelings,” but about “protecting our country.”
Silent Response and International Reaction
The summit, held at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, was marked by unusually tight security and a rare gathering of senior military personnel from around the globe.Reports indicate a largely silent response from the assembled generals and admirals, with many taking notes during the addresses.
However, the event drew criticism from international observers. Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the Nato Military Committee, reportedly stated, “As far as my 49 years of service, I’ve never seen that before.” Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies questioned the necessity of an in-person gathering, suggesting it could have been conducted virtually.
“Esprit de Corps” and Future conflicts
Prior to the event, Vice-President JD Vance dismissed media coverage as overblown, characterizing the meeting as a routine possibility for Hegseth to connect with his generals. Trump, though, described the summit as an exercise in generating “esprit de corps” and galvanizing his troops. He also touted his record in resolving conflicts, claiming to have “settled” seven wars and expressing hope for an eighth, contingent on Hamas accepting a proposed Gaza agreement.
The attendees, drawn from military installations across Europe, South Korea, and the Middle East, arrived hours before the event, seated according to their respective branches of service. Many wore medals signifying service in Afghanistan,Iraq,and the broader war on terror. Trump concluded his remarks by invoking a “warrior spirit” that he believes is essential to the nation’s strength, leaving many to question the implications of his vision for the future of the US military and its role at home.
