Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of U.S. military officials to an in-person meeting to announce directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness as well as an end to “woke” culture in

Social media posts claimed that an assembly of military leaders did not applaud the defense secretary and president during speeches in late September.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Historically, the U.S. military has been an engine for cultural and social change in America. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s vision for the armed forces he leads runs counter to that.

Last week, when news broke that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had ordered hundreds of generals from around the world to gather at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, this week, it set off fevered speculation about the possible reason for the unprecedented gathering.

The U.S. generals and admirals summoned from around the world had been given little information about the planned event.

Ty Seidule, a retired United States Army brigadier general and professor of history at Hamilton College in New York, called the meeting a "waste of resources" in an interview with Here & Now's Scott Tong. What is your reaction to the speech?

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking to military commanders in Quantico, Virginia Tuesday, announced directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness as well as an end to “woke” culture in the military.

Don Lemon called the defense secretary a "DEI hire" amid the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within the military.