President Trump to honor international US generals at rare Quantico event

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he plans to tell a gathering of US generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, that they are valued leaders who must remain strong, tough, and wise.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called senior US military leaders from around the world for a rare meeting in Quantico on Tuesday, bringing the nation’s top military leadership together in one location.

“I want to tell the generals that we love them, they’re cherished leaders, to be strong, be tough, be smart, and be compassionate,” Trump told Reuters in an interview. “That’s all it is—esprit de corps. It’s about time somebody did that.”

Trump’s attendance could overshadow Hegseth, who is expected to address the importance of maintaining a “warrior ethos” throughout the military and touch on other strategic priorities.

The US maintains troops across the globe, including in South Korea, Japan, and various parts of the Middle East, under the command of two-, three-, and four-star generals and admirals.

Hegseth often emphasizes the “warrior ethos” and the need for the US military to uphold a strong warrior mentality.

Earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order to rename the Department of Defense as the “Department of War,” reverting to a title it held until after World War II, when officials sought to emphasize the Pentagon’s role in preventing conflict.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump’s national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.

Officials have told Reuters that the event is expected to take place at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia.

Some of the senior-most officials, who are provided US military aircraft for official travel, are expected to fly into Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

It is unclear why the gathering could not have taken place virtually, and it will likely cost at least millions of dollars to transport and protect the large gathering.