Generals who were flown from across the world to attend the meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said there was no point in doing it, with one calling it a "waste of money."
"More like a press conference than briefing the generals," another attendee told Politico. "Could have been an email." A third called it a "total waste of money."
Hegseth discussed steps he is taking to implement what he described as the "warrior ethos," also telling generals that they must adhere to grooming and physical fitness standards.
He also dismissed the notion that upholding these standards are signs of a "toxic" leader. "Leadership, leading war fighters toward the goals of high, gender-neutral and uncompromising standards in order to forge a cohesive, formidable and lethal Department of War is not toxic. It is our duty, consistent with our constitutional oath," he said during a passage of the speech.
Hegseth also said that "to ensure peace, we must prepare for war." He added that the mission of the "Department of War" will be "warfighting." "Preparing for war and preparing to win. Unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit," he added.
"We are overhauling an Inspector General process, the IG that has been weaponized, putting complainers, ideologues and poor performers in the driver's seat. We're doing the same with the Equal Opportunity and Military Equal Opportunity policies. The EO and MEO at our department. No more frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complaints, no more repeat complaints. No more smearing reputations. No more endless waiting. No more legal limbo. No more side tracking careers, no more walking on eggshells," he added.
NBC News claimed that most members of the audience did not react to most of the speech and gave a light round of applause at the end.
Before the event, the Daily Mail published an article noting that Hegseth is being described as "manic" by staffers, noting that he routinely erupts into fits of rage and tirades.
Quoting staffers and insiders, the Daily Mail noted that while Hegseth has always been temperamental, his mental state has reached new lows after the assassination of Charlie Kirk earlier in September.
The outlet noted that Hegseth is becoming "obsessed" with his security, adding that there is an "even more manic quality" about him, "which is really saying something." "Dude is crawling out of his skin," another source said.
The report also noted that Hegseth's personal security demands are also under scrutiny, which the Daily Mail added that are straining the Army agency responsible for protecting him. "That warrior persona, he's spooked."
Asked for comment, Pentagon spokesperson San Parnell said "this might be the stupidest request we have received to date."
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