Trump to attend gathering of top generals, upending last-minute plans

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

September 28, 2025 at 10:32 a.m. EDT


President Donald Trump has decided he’s going to the last-minute global gathering of the nation’s top generals in Quantico, Virginia, that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered last week. Trump’s appearance not only upstages Hegseth’s plans, but adds new security concerns to the massive and nearly unprecedented military event.

“We have confirmation from the White House that POTUS is now attending the speech on Tuesday,” a planning document sent Saturday and viewed by The Washington Post states.

Notice went out to offices around the Pentagon that the decision will “significantly change the security posture” of the speech, set for Tuesday morning.

The addition of the president at Quantico will now put the Secret Service in charge of securing the event. Hundreds of the military’s top commanding generals and admirals, ranked one-star and above, along with their senior enlisted leaders were ordered to attend by Hegseth last week. The orders provided no reason for the event and initially raised concern among attendees and military officials that he was gathering the group to inform them of mass firings or demotions.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/28/trump-hegseth-speech-generals-quantico-security/

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No paywall (gift)

REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143536697
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143537457

[tanyev]

1. Now they'll get to hear him talk for hours about the UN trying to assassinate him with an escalator.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Wants generals to activate bombing runs on all escalators.

[Bengus81]

30. And...spews shit about "half way up" when it stopped. STFU Trump,you were basically

on the GD floor. Mrs. Trophy was a step or two up--of course! He's pissed because she just walked on up instead of waiting around to see if he would make a scene and she'd have to be a part of it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. He wants a total salute. . . . nt

[Biophilic]

3. What an F'ing mess and what an opportunity for our enemies.

[rzemanfl]

8. For the Flag Officers too.

Just my humble opinion.

[flashman13]

41. I agree. You and I are on the same page. Protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies

foreign and domestic.

[Codifer]

64. That is my hope also.

My fears are very much darker. Choices will be demanded..... or else?

[flashman13]

71. Choices are demanded indeed. If we are to honor those that came before, there is only one correct choice.

[BaronChocula]

73. HUGE F'ing mess

The Keystone Kestapo is terrible at logistics even when it's a military parade planned months in advance. Can't wait to see this fiasco.

[Ocelot II]

4. Is Trump so afraid Kegbreath will upstage him by putting on his own performance

that he decided to make an appearance to show the generals who's really boss?

[tanyev]

9. Most likely.

[Irish_Dem]

13. Exactly. Hegseth was getting too much press and attention.

And Trump wants the ass kissing all to himself, not going to share.

[GopherGal]

23. He heard Pete was arranging a tongue-bath

and decided he needed some of that sweet slavering obeisance for himself.

[dalton99a]

28. +1

[jmbar2]

22. Worried about a military coup?

[BComplex]

58. I wish!

In my 76 years on this planet, I never thought I'd say that!!

[Mr.Bee]

60. Getting Ready For Martial Law

Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!

[FakeNoose]

68. Just setting the stage, it's the perfect setup

All Pootie has to do is drop one bomb and get them all. Worst disaster ever.

[nitpicked]

83. Or someone else could fire THEIR missiles

Just saying.

[orangecrush]

80. Yup

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Purge?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Ba'ath_Party_Purge
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-25363857 (straight video)

[HappyLarge]

66. That's what I think.

And they‘ll keep going down the ranks until they get all toadies and quislings.

[pwb]

6. Trump will be counting color.

Names can be deceiving. They may have missed someone?

[Irish_Dem]

12. And gender.

Did he miss anyone he can fire.

[Deep State Witch]

7. Bend the Knee in Person

So, they're going to make all of the generals swear fealty to Clementine Caligula in person. Great.

[barbtries]

37. my theory is the same

my theory is that this is where they will have a loyalty fest and anyone who doesn't swear to worship der fuhrer will be demoted or drummed out.
they'll probably have them swear a new, secret oath that the constitution is crap and whatever krasnov says is the law and they will follow it.

— Democratic Barbara (@barbtries.bsky.social) 2025-09-26T17:57:49.771Z

[Mr.Bee]

62. Most Likely!

Mos Eisley

[Historic NY]

10. I guess using a group chat/zoom/meetings was too much for Pete

All these commands with the Generals in one place.

[regnaD kciN]

56. We already know Whisky Pete's track record with group chats...

[Irish_Dem]

11. Entire top military brass and POTUS in one spot.

Unbelievable.

[Ruby the Liberal]

84. At a publically announced date, time, and location

Even SCOTUS and the Cabinet keep people from the SOTU for security.

[Irish_Dem]

85. Yes giving our enemies advanced notice.

And yes always keep a few key people back for security reasons.
Continuity of command.

[KS Toronado]

14. This reeks of war plans, who and when is the question

Don't know who but when is fairly evident ..........keep it going until the midterms!

I remember when dumpie said he'd postpone elections if we're at war.

[Ocelot II]

16. Maybe, but it's more likely to be just a performance.

Consider that the performers are a washed-up TV reality show host and a former Fox "news" talking head. They'll be putting on a blustery show to remind the generals who's in charge.

[KS Toronado]

18. Hoping you are more correct than I am.

[Lonestarblue]

25. Venezuela has been mentioned.

Trump keeps ordering the military to blow up boats and kill what they claim are drug smugglers but provide no evidence. Trump just likes to murder people because it makes him feel important. President Maduro of Venezuela has been critical of Trump, therefore he and his country need to be destroyed by the US military to appease Trump’s irritation that anyone would dare to criticize anything he does or says. Plus there’s Venezuela’s oil and gas resources for Trump to plunder.

With the change in attitude from the Department of Defense to the Department of War, the purpose of our military is no longer defense from our enemies but to wage war on anyone who displeases Trump, including US citizens.

[Figarosmom]

48. Yeah you could see the wheels working in his

Head then Zelenskyy told him that in Ukraine there are no elections during war. When he repeated it of course he just passed over the "it's in the Ukraine constitution" part and said, something to the effect of " so I can cancel elections if there is a war?"

[djacq]

17. A quote from the late Terence Stamp...

[The Wizard]

19. The dark cloud on the horizon

is martial law

[Autumn]

20. He needs some ass kissing from top brass who will be happy to comply. nt

[ananda]

34. And he doesn't want Hegseth to upstage him...

so there he can by the high muckamuck CIC.

[Vinca]

21. Isn't it handy they tell our enemies exactly where these people will be at a certain time?

This is dumber than the Signal chat.

[popsdenver]

35. Quite possibly

something coming that Putin ordered "poopy pants" to do during their Alaska Meeting???????????

Gather the ENTIRE top end of U.S. Military in one place for me...will you, fat boy ????????

I am sure there are countless people here on this website that could take all kinds of guesses on what this fucked up occasion could be......
Interesting that it coincides with the potential shutting down of the U.S. Government in its entirety by Trump, U.S. Senators and U.S. House members.....

Also, this group, certainly includes the commanders of ALL the U.S. Military bases in ALL of the NATO countries??????????????

[MiHale]

24. All together...one place?...why do I have a Bruce Cockburn song running through my head.?

[Figarosmom]

42. More on the

Dialog with the Devil side not Big Bang Theory side I'm guessing.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

26. Here comes the loyalty oath...

[lastlib]

27. What comes to mind for me is Saddam Hussein.....

...gathering all the top people in the government, then calling out the ones that weren't totally loyal and executing them. We need to watch this event closely, along with the follow-up. It may be more than a purge...... - - - -

[dalton99a]

29. He will tell them how to groom

[TommyT139]

67. And who!

...or rather, "whom."

[FakeNoose]

70. Grooming is an issue because he hates that black officers are permitted to grow beards

The clean shaven requirement applies to whites in the military, but at least some blacks have been given a reprieve.
Chump hates that and he wants to end it. But that's not what this is about, I'm pretty sure.

[Diraven]

31. Trump loyalty oaths

Plus a purge of whoever refuses.

[ashredux]

32. This makes me nervous ."The addition of the president....will now put the Secret Service in charge of securing the event."

This could just be a regular dog and pony show….. or it could be the turning point.

[ananda]

33. For a couple of days I've been wondering if..

it's a good idea to put all the top brass in once place.

I kinda thought there might be a military rule or
policy for maybe not doing that.

[Tribetime]

36. He's trying everything.He can to change the subject from Epstein

[Kid Berwyn]

38. Loyalty Oath Optional?

Oath of Loyalty for All State Officials as of August 14, 1919:
“I swear loyalty to the Constitution, obedience to the law, and conscientious fulfillment of the duties of my office, so help me God.”
[Translated from Reichsgesetzblatt I, 1919, pp. 1419-1420.]

Oath of Loyalty for All State Officials as of August 20, 1934:
“I swear I will be true and obedient to the Führer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, observe the law, and conscientiously fulfill the duties of my office, so help me God.” 9
[Translated from Reichsgesetzblatt I, 1934, p. 785.]

Source: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/oaths-of-loyalty-for-all-state-officials

[chowder66]

39. It would be grand if the generals didn't show up or walked out!

[Figarosmom]

40. If they believe they will be fired

Wouldn't they resign before the event to safeguard their pensions?

[jmbar2]

43. "Something very weird is happening" What may be happening, from military expert

Interesting analysis from Combat Veteran News

Why might they be doing this?
- Stupidity
- Worst case scenario: Generals will be told something or given an order to do something with no written trace. Inept because you cannot expect 800 officers to stay quiet if it's wrong.
- Could be announcing a possible new war - Venezuela? No justification.
- Give the generals illegal or unethical orders, then purge dissenters

[SunSeeker]

50. It will cost at least $5k for each of these 800 generals to attend. That's $4 Million, minimum.

Then there is the security costs. What a huge waste of taxpayer dollars, while he is cutting people's healthcare.

[Figarosmom]

44. Trump wants to load cities with military

Because he thinks there is going to be violence because of the shut- down . So he's telling them to get themselves and their troops in check and if they can't do it they will be demoted and court marshaled.

They are getting ready to manufacture right riots.

[LoisB]

45. Why would you place all your top military people in one place at the same time?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

74. A purge?

Stalin would have loved the idea.

[LoisB]

79. That would not surprise me.

[maxrandb]

46. The bride at every wedding. The baby at every baptism.

The corpse at every funeral.

[Ilsa]

75. Really looking forward to that third one.

This last week's Southpark covered trump having a baby with Satan, and trump getting disturbed about the attention the baby will get from everyone.

[SunSeeker]

47. What a huge waste of our tax payer dollars. This will cost millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, he fired hurricane forecasters. If there is a God....

[LudwigPastorius]

49. Kiss the ring or hit the bricks.

Trump wants to know who will back him when refuses to leave at the end of his term.

[Nasruddin]

51. Mass purge

This is the Red Army purge in the middle of Stalin's Red Terror 1936-

[C_U_L8R]

52. That was obvious from the start.

It’s gonna be one big circle jerk. Like his staff meetings on ketamine. Generals will need to check their dignity and sidearms at the door.

[Joinfortmill]

54. This gave me a chill. But, it could just be more Kabuki Theatre.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

55. "Trump will be the headliner at Tuesday's show. Hegseth will be the undercard.

Link to tweet

[Red Mountain]

57. Hopefully it will all be recorded

So we can hear what is said.

[BidenRocks]

59. Since everything about this administration

Screams war, the leadership of our military should be considered 'under arms'.
That would include changing into combat dress WITH a sidearm.

NOW talk shit Mr Warfighter!

Someone bring a copy of the Constitution and The Oath Of Enlistment.

Highlight that part of fighting all enemies foreign or DOMESTIC!

You were saying?

[Tetrachloride]

61. Garlic.

[lonely bird]

63. Hmmmm.

Night of the Long Knives coming?

Oath of loyalty to Trump to be required?

If the latter is the case it is up to the military to act in support of their oath to support and defend the constitution against ALL enemies foreign and DOMESTIC.

[Traildogbob]

65. Submit and Yield

You high ranking suckers and losers.
“I am the Commander of Chef….. uh, (mumble mumble) did I say that right, assimofedomine”?

[Solly Mack]

69. A group of military retirees I know all think it is a "Come to Trump" moment or else.

[ChicagoTeamster]

72. He'll probably preempt Hegseth's speech with a mindless word salad

He'll change the topic from "Warrior Ethos" (drunk fake christian rapist with a gun) to some rambling word salad about Obama, Comey, and Pelosi were all mean to him, 2020 election was stolen, Russia hoax, buy my crypto to keep your position.

[orangecrush]

76. Sheer idiocy

[IA8IT]

77. Top Military can play the "Macron Card" ...I can't make it there roads blocked by Secret Service.

[MrWowWow]

78. Will It Be Something Like This?

[JoseBalow]

81. As if that wasn't the plan all along. Give me a break.

None of his lackeys do anything without his guidance and approval. Do people actually believe any of his bullshit?

[AverageOldGuy]

82. Will he wear his old military school cadet uniform?