Donald Trump to Attend High-Level Military Meeting in Virginia

President Donald Trump plans to attend an undisclosed meeting of top generals and admirals this week in Virginia. The event is described as a morale-boosting gathering for military leaders.

The meeting was initially viewed as a platform for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss transforming the Department of Defense into the so-called Department of War and to outline new standards for service members, according to about six people familiar with the planning.

When asked last week about the meeting, Trump seemed to know little about it; he hinted that it could be a display of new weaponry.

Trump now plans to appear in person. It will take place a few days after he dispatched American forces to Portland to protect immigration officers in the city of Oregon, and has since sharpened the use of the armed forces in the fight against domestic terrorism.

White House officials did not respond to requests for comment about Trump’s plan to participate, according to sources close to the matter.

As of Friday, there were no plans for Hegseth to make a significant national security announcement during the meeting, according to sources.

Instead, they expect the event to be “a demonstration of the strength of what the new army under the president’s leadership looks like now,” three sources who spoke to reporters said. They expect discussions of new readiness requirements, physical fitness, and the appearance standards that officers must adhere to.

Trump has long advocated strengthening the U.S. Army, notably through increased Pentagon spending.

to demonstrate the strength of what the new army under the president’s leadership looks like now.

Financial and Organizational Aspects

According to sources, the costs of transporting hundreds of generals and their aides to Virginia are staggering in scale. The cost of air travel could reach into the millions of dollars, and they also emphasize why the presence of all officers in person may not be timely if the speech is broadcast online.

According to three sources, the meeting is more of a morale-boosting affair: they expect an emphasis on a “martial spirit” and the outlining of the vision for the new role of the U.S. Armed Forces. They will discuss readiness requirements, physical fitness, and the appearance standards for officers.

Trump continues to stress the need to strengthen the U.S. Army, notably through increased funding for the Defense Department.