General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWOW! The generals are having NONE of it!
Trump just walked off the stage to silence, and the generals sat on their hands! God bless you for standing up to him and for the Constitution!

Kid Berwyn
(22,138 posts)You made my day, Faygo Kid. Thanks from a pal in the Motor City.
mitch96
(15,526 posts)Kid Berwyn
(22,138 posts)Trump's appearance will keep stupid (and smart) soldiers from doing stupid shit.
Native
(7,264 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(34,282 posts)Flag officers, Im assuming these were from all four branches military?
3/4 are generals due to the way it works and the rest are admirals I guess I didnt think they were that many admirals one for that matter generals, but the numbers are limited by rule.
My point is not important now that I look at the numbers, if this is real that they will not go along with the dictatorship I will be happy.
reACTIONary
(6,749 posts)soldierant
(9,044 posts)The people who wear one or more starts on their shoulders includes generals and flag officers from all services. And yes, they were all there.
Bernardo de La Paz
(59,632 posts)Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)Top brass giving Trump the death glare.
Tetrachloride
(9,182 posts)or a Grinch, either way, it will happen
yonder
(10,167 posts)
Here's what he got:
NameAlreadyTaken
(2,085 posts)that one lady in the front row was a split second late in starting to applaud...
Dave Bowman
(6,032 posts)eppur_se_muova
(40,310 posts)

yonder
(10,167 posts)SheltieLover
(74,451 posts)

malaise
(290,191 posts)Rec
NCDem47
(3,143 posts)Sat quiet and emotionless during this fiasco. No laugh track. No hootin' and hollerin' No whoo hoos at anti-woke bait.
So Trump and Hegseth want robot killers...but also want them to be rally monkees too??? Does not compute and is incongruent.
valleyrogue
(2,381 posts)I don't think Mickey Dolenz would care to do that.
WhiskeyGrinder
(25,825 posts)pat_k
(12,061 posts)Civilian control over the military doesn't mean they serve a political agenda. Yes, they serve the elected leadership and the CONSTITUTION, but the 47 regime will never get the notion that the military' DOES NOT AND MUST NEVER SERVE a political party. They will never be his cheerleaders.
The notion of political neutrality and political non-interference with the military, the treasury, DOJ, FBI, or any other agency, like the labor relations board, is an idea the 47 regime utterly rejects and completely violates. To 47, it is all "MINE! MINE! MINE! MY Military! MY Treasury! MY DOJ! It's all MINE!!!
Raven123
(7,160 posts)obnoxiousdrunk
(3,096 posts)Fla Dem
(27,192 posts)eppur_se_muova
(40,310 posts)How else could a general do it ?
WhiskeyGrinder
(25,825 posts)BidenRocks
(2,390 posts)eppur_se_muova
(40,310 posts)Dr. Strange
(26,055 posts)
obamanut2012
(28,929 posts)mdbl
(7,572 posts)yet.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)They didn't use to disgrace and abase themselves either.
So it is notable the Top Brass is silent and stone faced.
BaronChocula
(3,568 posts)Everything for him is a trump rally so he has his cabinet go around the table and say nice things about him to stroke his rice paper ego. So it would be a complete embarrassment for him to ramble in front of "his generals" and not get a response, even if he knew in advance they would not cheer. What a damaged person.
*CR=Child Rapist
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)He is the main character and only person of import.
The rest of the cast are disposable props.
Yes the generals did not follow the secret script.
He is furious and threatened to fire them all on the spot.
Can you imagine firing the entire US military top command
and consequences to national security.
Trump doesn't give a damn.
BaronChocula
(3,568 posts)His two staffing priorities are:
1. Loyalty
2. Appearing like "out of Central Casting"
His new U.S. attorney in Virginia looks like she could be in a pageant, but she can't even properly file an indictment.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)Bimbo claimed she had no knowledge of certain court documents.
Was clueless about them.
Judge pointed out she had signed each page of the document
in question. Bimbo says Oh.
calimary
(88,107 posts)NICE!
I LOVE it! Sure nails it.
Maggiemayhem
(885 posts)But basically you could hear a pin drop.
berniesandersmittens
(12,738 posts)T7$& said something to the effect of :
"You can clap or not, you can get up and leave, but if you do you'll lose your rank/job"
Not verbatim, but just wow.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)berniesandersmittens
(12,738 posts)Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)berniesandersmittens
(12,738 posts)Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)Thanks. I think.
thesquanderer
(12,817 posts)ananda
(33,625 posts)He may just think it's cute to fob it off as a joke.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)Even if Trump is joking we can see he is a cruel bastard who cares
nothing about the US Military and national security.
ananda
(33,625 posts)They sure are with Trump.
eppur_se_muova
(40,310 posts)I don't think anyone in the maladministration has shown any ability re genuine levity. They're all so grimly committed to their mission of destroying everything they don't like, they just can't let up. It's completely against their nature.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)And claims the victims are too stupid to get the joke and are too sensitive.
Rob H.
(5,729 posts)Joking but at the same time actually meaning it.
red dog 1
(31,986 posts)I'd like to watch that video, but I've been unable to locate post #24.
thesquanderer
(12,817 posts)... but my understanding is that the issue with seeing post numbers is only on mobile, so if you also have access to Mac or PC, you should be able to see it.
Skittles
(168,151 posts)but from that fascist POS Trump?
Pachamama
(17,506 posts)Disgusting
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)I am a military kid.
I don't know whether to start crying or cussing.
Pachamama
(17,506 posts)I did both - cussed and cried
Mad as hell
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(13,274 posts)I would say I was embarrassed for him. I can't.
I hope the brass use the occasion to discuss among themselves what does "defend the Constitution against enemies, foreign and domestic" really means.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)If word gets out, they lose their job, rank, pension.
soldierant
(9,044 posts)I'm a veteran and can't and couldn't watch it.
I am disgusted by this.
Ilsa
(63,471 posts)Kaleva
(40,016 posts)yardwork
(68,324 posts)They did what they're trained to do. They sat and listened.
I wonder if Hegseth will order them to applaud next time.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)Kaleva
(40,016 posts)Totally Tunsie
(11,351 posts)"For this I left my command, traveled XX miles in XX hours, and all I'm getting for lunch is a f****** salad!?!"
pat_k
(12,061 posts)... anything from the command of a division of 10,000 to a field army or geographic command of 100,000 or more soldiers, marines, or sailors.
I don't have a clue either, but I have no doubt that these are very busy people who can ill afford to pop off to a hastily organized --- uh -- whatever the hell that was.
Champp
(2,310 posts)He has no integrity, no honor,
I feel bad for the military leaders who have honor and integrity
BlueMTexpat
(15,615 posts)post-university career as a Peace Corps Volunteer, in a later career change, I ended up liaising and working with career officers at the Pentagon for about a three-year period.
Working with the very competent people that I got to know there, I learned NOT to stereotype the military and even now have great respect for those I got to know.
Those in the career military know the true costs of war and will do anything to avoid it. They are NOT the couch warriors that too many of our politicians are, and certainly not draft dodgers like Frump.
StarryNite
(11,900 posts)He must have felt like the biggest man on earth to call a meeting like that. Then of course Dump had to join in. Okay, they did it, now release the Epstein files.
Seinan Sensei
(1,196 posts)The Generals gotta love that
MineralMan
(149,960 posts)Sit down, Major!
Wifes husband
(617 posts)DetroitLegalBeagle
(2,440 posts)They are field grade. Junior grade are company level, so O-3 and below.
thomski64
(790 posts)Officers and soldiers, guess his comments overlooked Fatty Krasnov there on stage with him..
StarryNite
(11,900 posts)Did they mention alcoholism?
roscoeroscoe
(1,790 posts)Like promotions, awards, etc. No hesitation. Just for contrast.
SocialDemocrat61
(5,995 posts)to blame it all on Biden.
democratsruletheday
(1,638 posts)then they roll out tOrange fattie to further babble and degrade them. Makes sense.
Fil1957
(273 posts)IronLionZion
(50,106 posts)Reader Rabbit
(2,732 posts)...and told the Republican reps and senators that the 25th Amendment exists for a reason?
IronLionZion
(50,106 posts)
They are at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia
onenote
(45,728 posts)It's 50+ miles from Quantico base to the US Capitol and I don't think anyone would expect soldiers to march for dozens of miles on an interstate highway.
IronLionZion
(50,106 posts)clearly not walkable to DC
stopdiggin
(14,508 posts)say anything about the general's politics (or opinion and reaction to Trump's comments)
Just not the way this works.
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LetMyPeopleVote
(171,474 posts)Donald Trump orders his generals to give him applause: I've never walked into a room so silent before. Just have a good time. And if you want to applaud, you applaud.
Link to tweet
wolfie001
(6,316 posts)If any did, they're a royal jackass.
Justice matters.
(9,001 posts)Looks like they know he is a crazy but dangerous fascist...
General Milley is not the only one who knows that.
Diraven
(1,670 posts)To the media he'll claim that all the generals and admirals were on their feet clapping for him. I can already guarantee that.
Deuxcents
(24,386 posts)llmart
(16,961 posts)He belongs in a freakshow, not in our White House.
Warpy
(114,047 posts)Brass have got to be incredibly pissed off at the illegal orders he's given to use the military against US citizens, occu-pying US cities. They know this shit is illegal and they know it's going to create a generation or two of people who won't vote for politicians who call themselves "strong on defense" and who will keep increasing their budget to astronomical levels.
Or they might be bored shitless and just waiting for it to end so they can start drinking, which is the only way they are going to get through the next 3+ years.
Irish_Dem
(76,305 posts)Flying expensive multimillion dollar aircraft as well.
E. Normus
(104 posts)that recruitment is hard enough already. Trump and his rotten apples spoil the whole cart. Young patriots want nothing to do with a fascist run military.
PSPS
(15,035 posts)Amaryllis
(10,747 posts)patphil
(8,369 posts)Based on their treatment of Trump when he spoke to them, it's more likely these generals would lead a coup before they'd lead a fascist takeover.
Seriously, he's bad mouthed the military time and time again, and then he put an incredibly unqualified person in the job of Secretary of Defense. Did he expect the military leadership to love him for it?
Dr. T
(427 posts)at an undisclosed location to assess the feasibility of a military coup. Hogsbreath and Donnie would never see it coming because they're too stupid and self-absorbed. The military pros know how to execute a suprise attack. As long as we're going banana republic, let's go all the way.
drray23
(8,453 posts)They don't want to lose their careers and pensions. Most of them are right wing , those that are not will be fired.
BamaRefugee
(3,868 posts)There will be dead civilians lying in the streets.
Kent State Part Duh.
All they need is just ONE guy to pull the trigger, then normalization begins.
And that guy KNOWS he will get a pardon.
canetoad
(19,654 posts)Of the US and the whole world that complacency has not overtaken your top military officers.
Cowpunk
(833 posts)They showed their willingness to tolerate this insanity.
Phoenix61
(18,591 posts)Cowpunk
(833 posts)By staying, they showed they value their positions more than their commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. That's not what I would call brave.
haele
(14,730 posts)I'm not saying half, if not most of them wanted to get up and leave, but that's not part of the military discipline that is required to get to that rank. And if they did just up and leave, the GOP has a slate of unqualified Christian Nationalists standing by to take their places. I wouldn't be surprised if Flynn and Prince have Mercenaries and former DoD one star drop-outs ready for a "quick commission" to put in their places.
Flag officers think strategically.
They also know what happens when blindly following stupid or borderline unlawful orders. They also know what happens when there's "crusader officers" who throw bodies at problems instead of thinking things through.
There's other ways of working the system and finding oneself not able to "follow through" with an order - to protect those who trust you to lead and to protect the overall mission.
Reducing the citizen population of the US to a mono-cultural half (the obvious mission of "True Believers" and Project 2025 proponents) is not conducive to the well-being of the country in today's world, no matter how conservative one is. Diversity drives innovation. Not lockstep mind hiving.
Phoenix61
(18,591 posts)Walking out would be abandoning their troops and leaving them to fend for themselves.
Jilly_in_VA
(13,297 posts)KPN
(16,956 posts)about what they heard today. We can only hope. I'm guessing many of the audience members also do not have a perfect sense of what they think and feel, or how they stand among and compared to others in the room. I'm sure there is a great deal of uncertainty and unease among many in today's audience, but that is all know.
I haven't a clue as to how they will act in response to what they heard. I look forward to hearing the reaction of our recently retired military leaders and how they read the overall situation.
Personally, my over-riding sense is this is the beginning of a purge of disloyal leadership by the fat ass and GI Joe. It's really quite frightening.
D. Spaulding
(423 posts)"Dept of War Pigs"
by Slack Hegseth
"Generals gathered in their masses
Cause they're led right now by asses.
Watching egos plot disruption,
Threatening them with force reductions
All the wars that are still churning.
while for a Nobel, Trump is yearning.
MAGA's hatred far and wide
Is poisoning their brainwashed minds.
Oh Lord yeah"
Frasier Balzov
(4,630 posts)"Please clap."
onethatcares
(16,922 posts)lean over the lectern and tell the flag officers about his personal Viet Nam. That would have been a knee slapper..................
CaptainTruth
(7,922 posts)...when the 2026 midterm elections come around.
We KNOW Trump will have his thugs out in Democratic areas intimidating people going to the polls to stop the "wrong people" from voting, & he'll probably try to involve the military in other attacks on US citizens before that.
If Hegseth insulted & pissed off our military high command I hope that will make them more inclined to band together & say "NO!" when they're given unlawful unconstitutional orders.
Codifer
(1,104 posts)THAT is totally from the opening scene of "Patton" in which the General shouted his "war ethos".
Hell, why the fuck not. So many of tsf cabinet picks are right out of central casting.
WANTED: The usual suspects for sitcomedy/drama/tragedy.
Buxom but tough women who fly jets and shoot puppies and talk of "big dick energy".
Galoots should be typical handsome with strong jaw, wavy hair, no moral compass, no empathy, no knowledge of truth.
Entire cast is to have absolute loyalty to the director.
High pay plus you can keep what you steal.
No "Wokes" need apply.
Blue Owl
(57,648 posts)LetMyPeopleVote
(171,474 posts)
SeattleVet
(5,765 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,415 posts)IcyPeas
(24,431 posts)He was talking about "Nuclear"......
What was the other one President Bonespurs?
He just talked about how great he is.....
How many times did he say "Biden"?
NoMoreRepugs
(11,672 posts)gay texan
(3,089 posts)Maine Abu El Banat
(3,527 posts)Im feeling a little bit better after this.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,474 posts)Last edited Tue Sep 30, 2025, 05:21 PM - Edit history (1)
Did the secretary bring generals and admirals in from around the world so he could treat them like a CPAC audience? Actually, yes, he did.
Why Pete Hegsethâs pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected
— (@gypsydaveh.bsky.social) 2025-09-30T16:25:32.516Z
flip.it/GIAS0g
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pete-hegseth-speech-generals-admirals-rcna234674
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed fat generals and diversity initiatives that he said led to decades of decay in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday they should resign if they dont support his agenda. Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the Woke Department, Hegseth said as he kicked off the event in Quantico, Virginia. But not anymore, he said.
Choosing the worst moment from Hegseths bizarre and unnecessary speech is admittedly challenging. Was it his boasts about firing qualified military leaders? Or maybe his condemnation of diversity initiatives and climate change as s--- that the military will no longer care about?.....
Maybe the lowest of the low points was Hegseths comment that seemed to open the door to a new attitude toward war crimes. We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also dont fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country, he declared. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement.
Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-09-30T13:06:31.204Z
In other words, Hegseth spent millions of taxpayer dollars to bring generals and admirals in from around the world so that he could treat them like a CPAC audience.
As for those in attendance who mightve been uncomfortable with the secretarys absurdities, he extended some advice to them, too. If the words Im speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign, Hegseth said.
Bayard
(27,410 posts)C Moon
(13,245 posts)IzzaNuDay
(1,166 posts)I bet that was on the minds of some in the audience!
paulkienitz
(1,472 posts)such as the cops, or the courts. I think they'll remember their oaths pretty well.
soldierant
(9,044 posts)But I would add the senior NCOs are a force also, possiblty in some ways even more so than the general/flag officers. (Since NCO stands for Non-Commissioned Officer, you may have already been including them, but not everyone always does.)
paulkienitz
(1,472 posts)soldierant
(9,044 posts)Sergeant Major of the Army (highest ranking enlisted) may give you a little of an idea.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220686401
paulkienitz
(1,472 posts)soldierant
(9,044 posts)starting with the promotion from Private tp Private First Class. About the time they gt through Corporal and Sergeant to Staff Sergeant, part of their duties include liaison between people junior to them and officers. The higher up they go, the higher up the officers are, and the more junioe enlisted they are responsible to. I doubt whether there is a time when the needsof junior enlisted are not in their minds.
And no matter one's rank, one in the military shares the same two goals:
1. Accomplish the Mission
2. Attend to the welfare of the troops.
DetroitLegalBeagle
(2,440 posts)Protocol for them is non reaction to basically everything except for apolitical things. Especially if its on camera and during an event with elected officials.
yankee87
(2,700 posts)Bring back WWII battleships? Dementia DonOld only remembers pre 1980.
Oeditpus Rex
(42,979 posts)It's highly unusual as far as we know, perhaps even unprecedented. But, they need to follow it with some sort of action, such as a joint statement of their own.
SKKY
(12,673 posts)And I think that's beautiful.
B.See
(7,036 posts)still prevails.
Turbineguy
(39,514 posts)It reminded everyone to hang with the Constitution and not to sign on with Droopy Diaper.
ancianita
(42,300 posts)CentralMass
(16,608 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(13,297 posts)My husband is a Marine brat and says he has experienced said "death stare" personally from a colonel and would not wish to experience it from even ONE general, let alone a roomful of them.
BidenRocks
(2,390 posts)We stare because making eye contact is a distraction and a sign of weakness.
Are You Eye Fu****g Me?!
We learned quickly.
ReRe
(12,089 posts)is the first ray of hope that I've seen since Jan 20 2025. I hope they all have safe trips back to their stations.
Upthevibe
(9,845 posts)LaMouffette
(2,530 posts)have at them. Those brilliant, professional, and scary-as-hell men and women would have had them crying within one minute.
The sheer buffoonery on display yesterday was unprecedented and simply beyond belief. When Rump begged the generals to applaud for him, I gasped out loud. When he said they could do anything they wanted, even get up and leave, but if they did they would lose their rank, their future, I was stunned beyond words. The only thing more shocking to me is that Rump did not fire them all at that point, but wait, he is too much of a chicken shit to fire anyone in person, let alone a room full of military men and women, each of whom could easily kick his ass.
When will this national nightmare end.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,474 posts)
roamer65
(37,805 posts)The military can step in at some point via their oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.