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Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News host who became U.S. secretary of defense earlier this year, is drawing national attention for convening hundreds of America’s highest-ranking officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico today alongside former president Donald Trump. The closed-door forum, billed by the Pentagon as a “Senior Leaders’ Summit,” breaks with decades of precedent by pairing a sitting defense secretary and a presumptive presidential nominee in front of uniformed brass—a pairing critics say blurs the line between civilian oversight and partisan politics. According to an internal agenda obtained by multiple outlets, Hegseth’s keynote will outline a draft National Defense Strategy that promises to “eradicate woke ideology from the ranks” and “restore combat-focused readiness.” In a preview speech earlier this month at Fort Benning, Hegseth called diversity training “a luxury a dangerous world cannot afford,” signaling the culture-war tone expected at Quantico. The summit’s guest list amplifies the drama. Trump, who has made military loyalty a centerpiece of his 2026 campaign rallies, is slated to deliver closing remarks. Pentagon historians say no former president has addressed a service-wide gathering of active generals while running for office since Dwight Eisenhower in 1952. “It’s unprecedented for a political figure—even one who was commander in chief—to appear in this setting during an election cycle,” said former Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Mike Mullen in an interview with NPR. Supporters argue that the meeting merely reflects constitutional civilian control. “Secretary Hegseth is bringing clarity and mission focus at a time of global peril,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who will also attend. She cited rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Kremlin’s recent deployment of hypersonic missiles to Kaliningrad. Yet inside the Pentagon there is unease. A leaked memorandum, first reported by The Washington Post, shows several four-star officers requesting guidance on “how to remain apolitical in a potentially partisan environment.” One retired Army general likened the optics to “a campaign rally in camouflage.” The White House, asked whether President Biden approved of the event, declined to comment. Hegseth’s rapid ascent from television pundit to Pentagon chief remains central to the intrigue. After backing Trump in 2020 and 2024, he was confirmed by a narrow Senate vote in February 2025. In his first months he scrapped climate-readiness initiatives, reinstated the Navy’s “no-beard” policy, and ordered a review of the service academies’ DEI programs. Those moves have delighted conservative media but triggered lawsuits from advocacy groups representing LGBTQ troops. Today’s gathering comes as Congress nears a deadline to avert a government shutdown, raising questions about whether defense funding will become hostage to ideological fights. On Capitol Hill, Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed warned that “politicizing our officer corps is a gift to Beijing.” The Quantico summit is expected to conclude with a joint Trump-Hegseth photo op and no press questions. However, livestream feeds provided by PBS, C-SPAN, and Al Jazeera will carry portions of the remarks, ensuring that every phrase—whether rallying cry or policy signal—will circulate instantly online. Key phrases driving search interest include “Why are Trump and Pete Hegseth meeting generals,” “Quantico military summit,” and “Hegseth anti-woke defense strategy.” With 2026 campaign season accelerating, today’s event all but guarantees that Pete Hegseth will remain at the center of the political and security conversation for weeks to come.