Trump’s plan to use the military to put down protests in US cities is likely illegal.
President Donald Trump told U.S. military leaders to prepare to engage in domestic missions, saying the military would likely be targeting the “enemy from within” — a phrase Trump has used in the past to refer to progressives and left-leaning groups.
The nation’s top military heads gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico, about 30 miles south of Washington D.C. They had been summoned there by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week, with no apparent objective or details regarding why they were gathering. Shortly after that announcement, Trump said he would be delivering a speech during the event.
Hegseth used his part of the speech to deride women in the military and promise an end to what he called “woke garbage.” He also targeted overweight servicemembers, including the commanders gathered in front of him on Tuesday.
“It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world,” Hegseth said.
When Trump came to the stage, he spoke for over an hour. At one point, he indicated a desire to use the military to “quell civil disturbances” within the United States.
