Letter: At the meeting of generals, Hegseth and Trump made their intent clear
(Doug Mills | The New York Times) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center, and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, listen as President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals from around the globe at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va., on Tuesday morning, Sept. 30, 2025. Military officials and historians say the gathering, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke as well, is without precedent in size and scope.
So much reported confusion about what that meeting of generals, called by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, was all about. The two early statements from Trump and Hegseth telling attendees if they didn’t like the message being presented, then just resign, clarifies the real intent: to get as many as possible to resign so they can appoint new loyalists while avoiding the blowback of firings. The more military loyalists, the easier it will be to continue authoritarian actions, such as using U.S. cities as training grounds.
Don Wilhelmsen, Draper
Submit a letter to the editor
Donate to the newsroom now. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax deductible