Pete Hegseth The Latest: Hegseth declares an end to ‘politically correct’ leadership in the US military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of U.S. military officials to an in-person meeting Tuesday to announce directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness as well as an end to “woke” culture in the military.
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now at every level,” Hegseth said.
He said he’s loosening disciplinary rules and weakening hazing protections.
Hegseth and President Donald Trump abruptly called military leaders from around the world to convene at a base in Virginia without publicly revealing the reason until Tuesday morning. While meetings between top military brass and civilian leaders are nothing new, experts say the scale of the gathering, the haste with which it was called and the mystery surrounding it are particularly unusual.
Here’s the latest:
Trump says message to military leaders is, ‘I am with you’
“We’re a team,” Trump said. “And so my message to you is very simple: I am with you. I support you and, as president, I have your backs 100%.”
You’ll never see me even waver a little bit. That’s the way it is,” the president said.
That applies to police officers and firefighters, too, he said.
Trump now addressing military leaders
Trump opened by telling the leaders what a “great honor” it is to serve as their commander in chief.
He also commended their “unwavering devotion” to the armed forces and the country.
Trump added that they’re “incredible people” who look like they’re straight out of “central casting.”
Turning Point returns to Utah for first event since Charlie Kirk’s assassination
The stop, at Utah State University in Logan, is about two hours north of Utah Valley University, where Kirk was killed Sept. 10 by a gunman who fired a single shot through the crowd while Kirk was speaking .
Kirk was a top Trump ally and figure in his Make America Great Again movement. His death has galvanized conservatives, who’ve vowed to carry on Kirk’s mission of encouraging young voters to embrace conservatism and moving American politics further right.
Tuesday’s event, which was scheduled before Kirk’s death, will showcase how Turning Point is finding its path forward without Kirk.
The college tour is now being headlined by some of the biggest conservative names, including Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly and Glenn Beck.
Tuesday’s event will feature conservative podcast host Alex Clark and a panel with Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Andy Biggs, former Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Gov. Spencer Cox .
▶ Read more about the Turning Point event
Trump says Hamas ‘three or four days’ to respond to latest ceasefire deal
“Hamas is either going to be doing it or not,” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for Quantico to address a gathering of senior military brass. “And if it’s not, it’s going to be a very sad end.”
The president added there was “not much” room for Hamas to negotiate under terms of his latest peace proposal that he unveiled Monday.
Qatari and Egyptian officials have presented the 20-point proposal to Hamas negotiators, who are now reviewing it.
Hegseth asks military leaders to resign if they are against changing directives
He said the department has been told from previous administrations that “our diversity is our strength,” which he called an “insane fallacy.”
“They had to put out dizzying DEI and LGBTQ+ statements. They were told females and males are the same thing, or that males who think they’re females is totally normal,” he said, adding the use of electric tanks and the COVID-vaccine requirements to the list as mistaken policies.
“If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.”
The department will overhaul its inspector general process
Hegseth said the Pentagon’s watchdog has been “weaponized” and therefore will be retooled with new policies.
There will be more anonymous or frivolous complaints, Hegseth said, nicknaming his new directive the “no more walking on eggshells policy.”
The announcement comes amid an ongoing investigation by the inspector general’s office into Hegseth’s team and its use of the Signal encrypted messaging app. Earlier this year, a report in The Atlantic showed Hegseth shared sensitive military information in a chat that included senior national security officials and a journalist.
Hegseth talks about new tests, weight requirements
Hegseth said the Pentagon will add a combat field test for certain units that resemble the Army’s expert physical fitness assessment or the Marine Corps combat fitness test. Hegseth said every member of the joint force will be required to meet height and weight requirements.
“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” he said.
Hegseth maintained, as he has done in the past, that he would not allow facial hair.
“No more beards, long hair, superficial individual ex
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