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.

Top military leaders will gather for an in-person event at Quantico, which situated some 30 miles outside of D.C. Quantico is an educational hub and military installation for the Marines and FBI and houses the U.S. Marine Corps' Combat Development Command, Axios' Herb Scribner reports.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the country's military elite new reforms would weed political correctness from the U.S. armed forces.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared an end to “woke” culture in the military and targeted other policies of past administrations Tuesday.

ABC News obtained memos filed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that showed he is reviewing military policies on hazing and harrasment.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also attended the gathering, where he cautioned military leaders and declared that all ranks must begin taking a physical fitness.

President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a rare gathering of the country's highest-ranking military officials to outline their vision for a cultural and operational military reset on Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

In unprecedented address to 800 generals and admirals, the president mixes policy promises with trademark riffs on tariffs, Biden, and the Nobel Prize.