US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plan to address hundreds of U.S. military officials in person on Tuesday after the Pentagon suddenly asked top commanders from around the world to convene at a base in Virginia without publicly revealing the reason, the Associated Press reported.
The gathering at the Marine Corps base in Quantico near Washington has fueled intense speculation about the purpose and value of summoning such a large number of generals and admirals to one place, with many stationed in more than a dozen countries that include conflict zones in the Middle East and elsewhere, according to AP.
Moreover, the uncertainty comes as the country faces a potential government shutdown this week, the source added.
A White House official said Sunday that Trump also will speak at the gathering. The president told NBC News that he and Hegseth would be “talking about how well we’re doing militarily, talking about being in great shape, talking about a lot of good, positive things.”
