# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/61 "2025-09-27T19:48:37Z")
He’s getting ready to decimate their ranks. > [@](#): > > The meeting has reportedly stirred unease and anxiety among some military officers, especially given Hegseth’s efforts to reshape the Pentagon and his recent firings of several senior officers. > > In May, he ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals across the military and a 10% cut in the number of flag and general officers. And in recent months, he has dismissed more than a dozen senior military officials, according to the Times. > **[US military brass brace for firings as Pentagon chief orders top-level meeting](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/27/us-military-leaders-meeting-pete-hegseth)** > > Pete Hegseth ordered hundreds of generals and admirals to Virginia to meet and receive address on ‘warrior ethos’ From May… > **[Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20% | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/05/politics/hegseth-orders-pentagon-cut-senior-generals)** > > Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered senior Pentagon leadership to cut the number of four-star generals and admirals by at least 20% across the military, according to a memo signed by Hegseth dated May 5 and obtained by CNN. A defense... ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/62 "2025-09-27T20:04:58Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > hear him make a short speech on military standards and the “warrior ethos That’s like Pigpen lecturing people on cleanliness. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/63 "2025-09-27T20:27:09Z")
He probably needs the all together so he can line them up by hue and identify the most swarthy 20%. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/64 "2025-09-27T20:36:28Z")
I’m seeing things online saying the people that are there are referring to this as the General Squid Games. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/65 "2025-09-27T20:51:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I wonder if any of them will explain to them how, historically, every time a warrior culture has gone up against a soldier culture, the warrior culture always loses? I bet Hegseth has never heard this. (And he should be clued in about it—IF he’s capable of understanding it.) > [@Horatius](#): > > Anyone want to guess the per-minute cost of this boondoggle? Military transport for a few hundred generals, their staff, the local military personnel who have to set this up, hourly-equivalent wages for the attendees, since they’re not doing their actual jobs for however many hours or days they waste on this, it’s going to add up. For this reason among others—chiefly the security issues inherent in putting ALL the top brass in one vulnerable room—meetings have been happening via **secure teleconferencing** for a couple of decades, now. (See the linked article, below.) The timing is concerning. As mentioned upthread, the meeting happens a day before a likely shutdown. Crucial overseas posts may be being covered by temporary substitutes for, possibly, days. And this just as Putin is upping his European aggression, with fly-overs and drones in Poland and Finland (at least). All a coincidence….right? Also a coincidence that Donald’s increasing unpopularity may be accelerating the need for a “decisive move” that would let the Trumpites cement their power. Some sort of fire in some sort of Reichstag would just about fill the bill….. > **[As Our Generals and Admirals Fly Home, Our Adversaries Watch and Wait](https://www.thebulwark.com/p/hegseth-quantico-meeting-generals-admirals)** > > Couldn’t Hegseth’s in-person meeting of all flag officers have been a secure conference call? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/66 "2025-09-27T21:08:35Z")
Not to mention the per diem, which in WDC is over $300/day. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/67 "2025-09-27T22:55:42Z")
With the most non-male ones (KWIM?) going first. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/68 "2025-09-27T23:34:11Z")
Are there any non-male ones left? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/69 "2025-09-28T01:48:01Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > In May, he ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals… How 'bout they all stay, but each one only gets 3.2 stars? ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/70 "2025-09-28T02:07:01Z")
Except the Black ones, who get 2.4. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/71 "2025-09-28T03:49:31Z")
It’s also possible he thinks “four starts” is a Yelp review. ---
**Author:** ![GWF\_Hefel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/898d66/32.png) [@GWF\_Hefel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GWF_Hefel)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/72 "2025-09-28T04:54:16Z")
Perhaps the meeting is just a 21st century update of the Wannsee Conference. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/73 "2025-09-28T05:32:04Z")
ISWYDT. Nice compromise! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/74 "2025-09-28T12:46:13Z")
> [@GWF\_Hefel](#): > > Perhaps the meeting is just a 21st century update of the Wannsee Conference No, you only invite people you trust to such an event, and Kegsbreath doesn’t trust anyone who has a star on their shoulder. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/75 "2025-09-28T14:55:39Z")
I’ve been to more than a few Wannasee conferences myself: everyone is summoned expecting that the years of experience they’ve acquired will be combined with that of others to create a solid plan going forward, only to be blindsided by a talk-back-if-you-dare harangue that inaugurates something obviously doomed to disaster. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/76 "2025-09-28T15:12:38Z")
AIUI, the point of the Wannsee conference was to demonstrate that all relevant government departments had their fingerprints on the outcome, but reported in such a way that it could be remembered as more of a _Don’t-_ Wannasee conference ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/77 "2025-09-28T18:32:19Z")
Well, that uppity Donnie has invited himself to Pete’s Private Party for Generals. I’m guessing Petey isn’t going to be happy about that. Oh Lord…some of the rogue nations (besides us, of course), must be poring over their maps and doing some calculations… > # Trump Plans to Attend Gathering of U.S. Military Officers > > _Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world for an unusual gathering._ > > [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/us/politics/trump-hegseth-military.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.pU8.ev4e.taGz3V8ze19w&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/us/politics/trump-hegseth-military.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pU8.ev4e.taGz3V8ze19w&smid=url-share) > President Trump plans to attend an unusual gathering of U.S. generals and admirals at a military base in Virginia on Tuesday, an event coming at a moment when Mr. Trump has pushed for a new kind of war-fighter culture at the Pentagon. > > It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Trump planned to give a formal address to the hundreds of military leaders from around the world at the base at Quantico, Va., or whether his remarks would be made public. The Washington Post [reported earlier](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/28/trump-hegseth-speech-generals-quantico-security/) on the president’s attendance. > > But for Mr. Trump, who has long favored images of himself surrounded by military leaders, such a setting may prove irresistible. > … OF COURSE he’s going to address them! He’ll elbow Pete aside and shamelessly upstage him. That’s the way Donnie operates. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/78 "2025-09-28T18:44:21Z")
Possible short address. ‘Noble’ Peace Prize, windmills, escalators, Aunti-Phi, ended 9 wars (latest count), invade, bomb, Greatest President ever, Biden, me, me me, … Hegfest25. The Gathering of the Juggalos. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/79 "2025-09-28T18:48:57Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Hegfest25. The Gathering of the Juggalos. Nah, Juggalos are decent people once you get to know them. Can’t say the same about these folks. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409/80 "2025-09-28T18:52:11Z")
Golly, I hope Trump’s bone spurs don’t flare up, and he’s able to traverse any gently angled ramps that might be there. Maybe they’ll have a Feats Of Strength demonstration, and Trump can attempt a one handed hoist of a sippy cup. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseth-calls-all-of-the-top-military-brass-together-for-an-in-person-meeting/1023409.md?page=5)