WASHINGTON - Former president Donald Trump and Fox News host Pete Hegseth are scheduled to address an estimated several hundred U.S. military leaders this week, signaling a potential shift in defense priorities and a demand for unified support behind teh management’s forthcoming strategy. The meeting, requiring in-person attendance from commanders across the globe, is drawing scrutiny from national security analysts who question its purpose and potential impact on military morale.
the gathering comes as the trump administration prepares to unveil a defense policy that diverges from decades of precedent, reportedly prioritizing the Northern hemisphere over traditional focus areas like Europe and Asia. Experts suggest the meeting aims to secure buy-in from top military officials for this new direction, which includes increased domestic deployments and a more assertive role for the military in border security and law enforcement.
Brookings institution Director of Research for Foreign Policy, Michael O’Hanlon, characterized the mandatory in-person meeting as “theatrics” and an attempt to “impose” rather than foster a genuine exchange of views. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, anticipates the discussion will center on the administration’s evolving defense strategy.
Hegseth has been a vocal proponent of expanded military involvement in domestic operations, including securing the U.S.-mexico border, supporting “law enforcement surges” in American cities, and authorizing actions against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean. Thes initiatives,Clark explained,represent a significant departure from established norms.
“I think thay’re trying to set the tone, set the context, for these generals and admirals to say the strategy we have coming out is very different than what you’re used to – we need you to all be on board with it,” Clark said. The requirement for in-person attendance,despite logistical challenges posed by global time zones,is intended to underscore the importance of the administration’s message. “It’s a way of demonstrating that this is significant,” Clark added.