Ex-lieutenant general slams Trump for breaking unwritten rule while speaking to military leaders
In late September, hundreds of top U.S. generals and admirals were urgently summoned from around the world to a meeting at a Marine Corps base in Virginia. The unusual gathering caused concern that major cuts or firings were imminent, anxieties that were not eased by the announcement that former President Donald Trump would be speaking.
The meeting was led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who outlined his vision for the military. He called for an end to “woke” practices, criticized diversity efforts, and took aim at female service members and what he termed “overweight generals and admirals.”
The event drew heavy criticism from attendees and observers. One anonymous defense official dismissed it as something that “could have been an email,” while others warned of the massive security risk of concentrating so many senior leaders in one place.
Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling publicly condemned the speech. He suggested that military leaders would refuse any illegal orders and would be analyzing which of Hegseth’s directives they could lawfully implement.
Hertling emphasized that the public nature of the criticism was particularly damaging. He noted that a key military leadership principle is to “praise in public and discipline in private,” but this event did the opposite.
He stated that the attendees were not only personally embarrassed but also embarrassed for their services. The public disciplinary approach was seen as an attempt to separate the military institution from the American people it serves.
Hertling guaranteed that the professionals in the audience would not execute illegal orders, reinforcing the military’s commitment to its oath and professional standards.
