The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has announced plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals by 20%, emphasizing a military culture that excludes what he terms ‘beardos, weirdos, and wimps’. This declaration was made during a speech at the Marine Corps Base on Wednesday, where he dismissed concerns about low morale within the armed forces as ‘false claims’. Hegseth asserted that the military is retaining personnel at ‘record’ rates, citing that about 80% of the crew aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln was retained despite challenges related to mental health and supply issues during its lengthy deployment.

Key Statements

Hegseth's remarks included:

  • “The only focus, as you know, in your formations should be training, readiness, accountability, discipline and lethality.”
  • “We are no longer the woke department or the weak department. Simple translation of that: no fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors.”
  • “Generals who clung to the woke department, or seemed to think civilian control of the military is simply a suggestion, well, they no longer work here.”