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Trump Summons all U.S. Generals to Pentagon Amid Loyalty Concerns
WASHINGTON – In an unprecedented move, teh Pentagon has convened all U.S. generals for a meeting this weekend, sparking speculation about the purpose of the gathering and raising concerns about potential political interference in the military. The sudden call for the meeting comes as former president Donald Trump publicly flirts with the idea of using the military domestically to quell protests and amid reported plans to reduce the number of flag officers in the Navy and Coast Guard by 10 percent.
The meeting’s timing and broad scope have fueled anxieties that the Trump management might potentially be seeking to gauge or demand loyalty from top military leaders. This follows a pattern of Trump questioning the commitment of military officials to him personally, rather than to the Constitution.The administration has also signaled a desire for significant reorganization and cultural change within the armed forces.
Retired General Ben Hodges publicly drew a historical parallel on X (formerly Twitter), referencing a similar meeting held in Berlin in July 1935 where German generals were instructed to pledge allegiance to Adolf hitler rather than the Weimar Republic’s constitution. “German generals were told there that their oath was no longer in force on the Constitution of the Weimar Republic, they had to loyal to the Führer. Most of them did not lose their job,” Hodges wrote.Pete Hegseth, a supporter of Trump, responded to hodges’ post with a dismissive “Cool story, General.”
The meeting occurs against a backdrop of increasing tension between the civilian leadership of the Department of Defense and career military officers. concerns have been raised about the potential erosion of the traditional principle of civilian control of the military, and whether the armed forces will remain steadfast in their commitment to the Constitution.
