US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he would tell a gathering of US generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia that they were cherished leaders who needed to be strong and tough.
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Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned senior US military leaders from around the world for a meeting in Quantico on Tuesday – a rare gathering of the country’s military leadership in one location.
“I want to tell the generals that we love them, they’re cherished leaders, to be strong, be tough and be smart and be compassionate,” Trump told Reuters in an interview.
“That’s all that is, esprit de corps. It’s about time somebody did that,” he added.
Trump’s attendance could overshadow Hegseth, who was expected to discuss the need to adhere to a “warrior ethos” throughout the military and could touch on other areas.
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The US has troops around the world, including in distant locations such as South Korea, Japan and across the Middle East, which are commanded by top-ranked generals and admirals.