These are among the array of theories outsiders have floated in their attempts to explain a mysterious mass gathering Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hastily ordered last week, summoning hundreds of top military commanders to Quantico, Virginia, on Sept. 30.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assailed what he called "decades of decay" caused by policies promoting diversity and inclusion in the U.S. military at an unprecedented gathering of military leaders near Washington on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump addressed the country's top military officials today during an rare gathering of military leaders in Quantico, Virginia. During his speech, the president suggested using "dangerous cities" as "training grounds for our military" and aired his political grievances.

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 told senior military leaders that he supports them during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Tuesday.

Pres. Donald Trump spoke at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Tuesday to hundreds of military officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned the officials to the in-person meeting to announce directives for troops in the "Department of War" that include "gender-neutral" or "male-level" standards for physical fitness as well as an end to "woke" culture in the military.

Hegseth mandated all senior commanders at the rank of brigadier general or rear admiral lower half and above to report to the Virginia base.