# Hegseth calls all of the top military brass together for an in person meeting **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 26, 2025, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409 "2025-09-26T02:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/221 "2025-10-01T12:39:54Z")
In the movie, Patton stands alone against a flag that is the total backdrop. There are no props except the riding crop. It was staging that became iconic. Trumps cheesy attempt at imitation fell flat. The flag was too small. There was all kinds of junk on the stage. Hegseth was a clown running around with a mike. Trump was delusional. Before such a powerful, sophisticated audience. How is this even possible? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/222 "2025-10-01T12:44:09Z")
Worth a read this morning. > **[Bulging Biceps Don’t Win Modern Wars](https://open.substack.com/pub/paulkrugman/p/bulging-biceps-dont-win-modern-wars?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=4y8eu)** > > Hegseth’s speech was vile. It was also stupid. > Hegseth’s speech was morally vile. It was also, however, profoundly stupid. Hegseth seems to have gotten his ideas about what an effective military looks like by watching the movie 300. > … > Of course a regime that believes it can make America great by defunding science and destroying higher education believes that it can make our military more effective by making it prejudiced and stupid. > > The good news is that America’s officer corps isn’t stupid, at least not yet. The stony silence with which the assembled generals and admirals greeted Hegseth’s and Trump’s rants was eloquent. > > But you can now add the military to the list of great American institutions that MAGA is, in effect, trying to destroy. A reader comment, probably too long to quote here, points out that Trump has systematically attempted to destroy America’s most important assets namely, credibility among other nations when it comes to honoring contracts and promises, scientific capability which used to be second to none, our immigration system which has brought brilliant and talented people to this country, and now he’s undermining the morale and honor of the US military. I have to say that watching that room full of uniformed people sitting motionless in stony silence was as inspiring as seeing the demonstrators on every corner that Rachel Maddow always shows on her program on Monday nights. That silence screamed volumes. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/223 "2025-10-01T13:20:58Z")
ninja’ed ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/224 "2025-10-01T13:37:26Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > How is this even possible? 1. They think we’re stupid 2. Enough of us are stupid to get them elected ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/225 "2025-10-01T13:42:29Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Also, as my uncles who were island-hopping marines in WWII pointed out to me: grooming standards are one of the first things to go in actual combat. _Hygiene_ standards - the things that actually keep you healthy - are a priority, yes. Whether or not you’ve shaved this week, or how long your hair is, or how dirty/worn your uniform is takes a back seat when you’re actually under fire for days at a time. Come to think of it, my uncles who fought in Europe in WWII said much the same thing. This focus on surface appearances just show how unqualified the current administration is. They want shiny toy soldiers, not real military personnel actually doing their real jobs. Dixon’s “On The Psychology of Military Incompetence” notes that there is a pretty strong inverse correlation between leaders who emphasize superficial “bullshit” things like shiny belt buckles and actual capability to lead men in war. ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/226 "2025-10-01T13:56:38Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > From what I saw (extended clips) not only was the silence stony (not even cloth rustling from people shifting, no coughing, _nothing_) but it was throwing off both the speakers who are so used to the crowd feedback it’s practically punctuation for their speeches. It’s hilarious to watch Hegseth give his “FAFO” line which is supposed to be an audience pleaser but just turns increasingly cringe the longer the silence goes for. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/227 "2025-10-01T14:02:49Z")
Also, the notion he seemed to have that he couldn’t/shouldn’t say an unedited F\*\*\* Around and Find Out in front of career military is ludicrous. There wasn’t a virgin ear in that audience. Apparently the administration wants to keep the _Reichsparteitags_ G-rated? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/228 "2025-10-01T14:05:15Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > There wasn’t a virgin ear in that audience. I don’t think his intended audience actually included anybody wearing a uniform. Those generals and admirals were just props. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/229 "2025-10-01T14:07:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Dixon’s “On The Psychology of Military Incompetence” notes that there is a pretty strong inverse correlation between leaders who emphasize superficial “bullshit” things like shiny belt buckles and actual capability to lead men in war. When I was on my submarine (underway and submerged), there was a new officer (a Naval Academy grad) who decided one day to pull out a can of black shoe polish and was diligently shining his shoes in the wardroom. The chief Engineer found him and proceeded to upbraid him. “First of all,” the Engineer said, “You’re putting unnecessary contaminants in the air that we all have to breathe.” “Secondly, go find something better to do with your time than shining your f\*cking shoes.” “How is your division doing? Are you caught up on your quals?” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/230 "2025-10-01T14:11:02Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I don’t think his intended audience actually included anybody wearing a uniform. Those generals and admirals were just props. Agree. Nearly everything done in public by any member of this administration is aimed at an audience of one. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/231 "2025-10-01T15:44:45Z")
> [@robby](#): > > When I was on my submarine (underway and submerged), there was a new officer (a Naval Academy grad) who decided one day to pull out a can of black shoe polish and was diligently shining his shoes in the wardroom. > > The chief Engineer found him and proceeded to upbraid him. “First of all,” the Engineer said, “You’re putting unnecessary contaminants in the air that we all have to breathe.” “Secondly, go find something better to do with your time than shining your f\*cking shoes.” “How is your division doing? Are you caught up on your quals?” When I was a Mid at CORTRAMID, we were greeted at Point Loma by a Masterchief who said “we don’t march at SubBase”. Subsequently, he told us to remove the Brasso and shoe polish before getting underway. A good many of us were recruited to the sub service that day, especially after a week with the surface fleet that consisted of little other than PT and polishing. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/232 "2025-10-01T15:49:27Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > “We need to dress them up with more gold trim and accents from Home Depot!” You missed this part of Trump’s speech: > You know, when I have a general and I have to sign for a general, because we have beautiful paper, the gorgeous paper, I said, “throw a little more gold on it. They deserve it. Give me, I want the A paper, not the D paper.” We used to sign a piece of garbage. I said, “this man’s going to be a general right here. I don’t want to use this. I want to use the big, beautiful, firm paper. I want to use the real gold writing when you talk about the position.” And they’re beautiful. Colbert had this last night, where he cut to Trump’s birthday card to Epstein, just as he said, "And they’re beautiful. " ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/233 "2025-10-01T17:54:03Z")
I am reminded of Trump’s first term, when a favorite pastime of his was to hold covid superspreading events. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/234 "2025-10-01T20:08:43Z")
Was Kegbreath going on about changing rules of engagement and use of deadly force a reference to their campaign of terror in the Caribbean? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/235 "2025-10-01T20:34:46Z")
I think it is obvious that Kegsbreath is preparing the military for World War IV, which as Einstein is reputed to have said, will be fought with sticks and stones. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/236 "2025-10-01T20:39:01Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Hegseth? An undistinguished military career. Trump? Never in the military. It’s difficult to command respect, when you’ve done nothing that the military should respect you for. Does this apply to Barack Obama and Ash Carter too? Neither of them were veterans. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/237 "2025-10-01T20:39:42Z")
I feel more confident now that the military leadership knows what a shitshow is running things, and that maybe, if/when they’re expected to attack Americans, will be less likely to comply. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/238 "2025-10-01T20:40:22Z")
But they largely listened to their generals, and didn’t pretend that they knew better. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/239 "2025-10-01T20:41:21Z")
Both of whom respected the military they commanded. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/240 "2025-10-01T20:42:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Both of whom respected the military they commanded Omg, can you imagine the reaction if Obama had given them a lecture like this one??? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409.md?page=13)