Former Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling called the gathering “somewhat shocking” and “filled with mistruths,” and suspected “it’s not being taken well” by the troops.

After listing the proposed changes, Hegseth gave the assembled officers a warning: “If the words I’m speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” If the commanders wanted to better understand what he was saying, he jokingly told them, they could pick up a copy of his book.

Former defense secretary Leon Panetta criticized Pete Hegseth's speech to military brass on Tuesday while questioning his ability to lead.

"Outrageous! Pete Hegseth's fiery speech at military meeting sparks viral mockery. Find out why viewers can't stop talking about his

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 before hundreds of top U.S.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, used Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s remarks about “fat generals and admirals” in the U.S. military to troll President Donald Trump.

California Governor Gavin Newsom compared Pete Hegseth to stunted “Simpsons” character Ralph Wiggum following the Defense Secretary’s Tuesday address.

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rallied hundreds of U.S. generals with a call to end “woke” principles like diversity and inclusion, declaring war on “fat” troops and