Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey issued sharp criticism of President Donald Trump’s remarks to top military leaders at Quantico, Virginia.
McCaffrey, who appeared Wednesday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” described the event as highly unusual and unsettling.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. That presentation at Quantico from the president and secretary of Defense was one of the most bizarre, unsettling events I’ve ever encountered,” he said.
The retired general went further, suggesting Trump’s delivery lacked clarity and discipline.
“The president sounded incoherent, exhausted, rabidly partisan, at times stupid, meandering, couldn’t hold a thought together,” McCaffrey added.
Trump’s remarks, delivered on Tuesday, focused on what he characterized as a “war from within” inside the United States.
He claimed that cities facing high crime rates could serve as “training grounds” for military preparation.
“We’re under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms,” Trump told service members, according to The Associated Press.
Trump and Hegseth Vow to End “Woke” Policies
The president appeared alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also addressed the gathering.
Both men promised to eliminate what they called “woke” policies from the armed forces and return to a tougher form of leadership.
Hegseth delivered an especially forceful message to the crowd.
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now at every level,” he said, according to the AP.
Trump echoed the sentiment, claiming the military’s core mission was not to shield people’s feelings.
“It’s to protect our republic,” he said. “We will not be politically correct when it comes to defending American freedom.”
Backlash From Democratic Lawmakers
The remarks drew swift condemnation from Democrats and others concerned about politicizing the armed forces.
Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the gathering “an expensive, dangerous dereliction of leadership.”
He also warned that Hegseth’s ultimatum to senior officers undermined military professionalism.
“Even more troubling was Mr. Hegseth’s ultimatum to America’s senior officers: conform to his political worldview or step aside,” Reed said in a Tuesday statement.
“That demand is profoundly dangerous. It signals that partisan loyalty matters more than capability, judgment, or service to the Constitution, undermining the principle of a professional, nonpartisan military.”
Reed added that the speech risked damaging morale and cohesion within the armed forces.
“His words were divisive and corrosive to the force itself. America’s military strength depends on men and women of every race, gender, and creed. By dismissing and marginalizing servicemembers who do not fit his narrow vision, Hegseth insulted those who serve honorably and eroded the cohesion that makes our military strong,” he said.
Support From Republican Leaders
While Democrats raised alarms, some Republican figures defended Trump’s approach.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) praised the president’s remarks and highlighted what he saw as their effectiveness.
“It’s a win-win scenario because National Guardsmen are proud of that duty that they performed, and they brought crime down dramatically in D.C. And all of us are safe. Our staffs are safe. They’re not walking in fear right now. I think we should do that in every major city run by Democrats who aren’t serious,” Johnson said during a Wednesday appearance on CNN’s “Inside Politics.”
His comments underscored a stark political divide over Trump’s message and the future of U.S. military leadership.
Broader Implications
The Quantico event and its aftermath have intensified debates over the role of politics in the armed forces.
Critics say Trump and Hegseth are injecting partisanship into an institution traditionally committed to neutrality and constitutional service.
Supporters argue they are restoring discipline and focus to a military they believe has been weakened by excessive sensitivity and political correctness.
