Ex-lieutenant general slams Trump for breaking unwritten rule while speaking to military leaders

The emergency meeting in Virginia drew hundreds of top U.S. military leaders, but instead of clarity, it sparked confusion and criticism. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used the platform to attack diversity initiatives and call out “overweight generals,” while Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging and controversial speech. Critics slammed the gathering as a security risk and a waste of time, arguing it achieved little beyond headlines. Ultimately, what was meant to be a strategic briefing ended up as a polarizing spectacle.