Retired Gen. Mark Hertling ripped President Donald Trump’s speech to hundreds of senior military leaders — before revealing what he believed shocked the president in real time.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned top military officials to an in-person meeting in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday, in which he issued a series of directives that included requiring all combat troops to meet the “highest male standard” for physical fitness. Trump, who spoke after Hegseth, proposed using U.S. cities as training grounds for the armed forces and said that the military may need to fight what he described as the “invasion from within.”
During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” early Wednesday, Hertling called Trump’s speech “meandering” with “all sorts of issues,” before noting that the president “thrives” on applause and cheering from a crowd. More than 800 military brass largely sat quietly during both addresses.
“When he didn’t get that, and instead got quiet professionalism from the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in the audience, that likely rattled him from the very beginning,” Hertling said.
“And that silence wasn’t disrespect — it was restraint and discipline and adherence to the oath of office,” he continued.
Hertling went on to say that the rare meeting serves as a “collective reminder” of the military’s culture, which he said transcends politics.
“It was on full display, and it was interesting to watch from both sides of the audience,” he said.
When asked by anchor Willie Geist about Trump’s pledge of “domestic policing,” Hertling said any move is considered “illegal.”
“It violates our oath of office to defend the Constitution, which says the military is not to be used specifically — that was put in the Constitution — against securing American streets, other than when there is an insurrection within the republic.”
“The indications are people are asking us to prepare to do that, so that means there’s measures afoot to try and make that happen,” he added.
In his speech, Trump also discussed his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, tariffs and the recently unveiled peace plan for the Israel-Hamas conflict. He also announced that his administration is committed to spending over $1 trillion on the U.S. military in 2026.
Hegseth, meanwhile, touched on new grooming and physical appearance standards.
“If the secretary of war could do regular, hard [physical training], so could every member of our joint force. Frankly it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth emphasized that he doesn’t want his son to serve alongside military members who are “out of shape,” as well as next to women who “can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men.”