Trump Boasts US Is '25 Years Ahead Of Russia And China On Submarines' - What He Told Top Military Leaders

(MENAFN- Live Mint) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 30) highlighted his self-described peacemaking abilities but acknowledged that major global conflicts remained unresolved. While he projected confidence in America's military strength - boasting the US was“25 years ahead of Russia and China on submarines” - uncertainty remained over whether his broader agenda would mean another shake-up in defense priorities.

Nuclear arsenal and global threats

Trump emphasized America's military strength, particularly its nuclear capabilities.

“We were a little bit threatened by Russia recently, and I sent a submarine, nuclear submarine, the most lethal weapon ever made,” he said.“Number one, you can't detect it. There's no way. We're 25 years ahead of Russia and China in submarines.”

He added:“Frankly, if it does get to use, we have more than anybody else. We have better, we have newer, but it's something we don't ever want to even have to think about.”

Diplomacy and Middle East conflicts

Speaking to senior commanders at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must negotiate directly to end the war in Ukraine.

“And then we have Putin and Zelenskyy, the easiest one of them all, I said, that one, I'll get done. I thought that was going to be first,” he said of the war in Ukraine.

On the Middle East, he warned that Hamas had to agree to a US-backed deal for peace in Gaza .“Hamas has to agree, and if they don't, it's going to be very tough for them,” he told the officers.

“Reawakening the warrior spirit”

Trump told the gathering of generals and admirals that the military was undergoing a revival of its fighting ethos.

“Together, we're reawakening the warrior spirit. And this is a spirit that won and built this nation,” he said, standing before a large American flag and banners reading“Strength Service America.”

He assured the officers of his support, declaring:“I am with you, I have your backs.”

Military acquisitions and“peace through strength”

Trump promised reforms to streamline military acquisitions and expedite foreign military sales.

“We have tremendous numbers of countries that want to buy our equipment, and you know, in many cases, it takes too long. They're backlogged,” he said.

“We make the best equipment in the world, but they got to make it faster,” he added, urging companies to speed up production.

Trump also declared,“Peace through strength is back,” claiming the U.S. is respected globally once again, in contrast to his view of the Biden administration.“Under Biden, we were falling down stairs every day.”

Domestic security and“invasion from within”

Trump proposed using“dangerous cities” as military and National Guard training grounds, singling out Chicago for upcoming operations.

“I told Pete [Hegseth], we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military...because we're going into Chicago very soon, that's a big city with an incompetent governor,” he said.

He criticized Democrat-led cities like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, calling them“very unsafe places” and saying:“We're going to straighten them out one by one. And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That's a war too. It's a war from within.”

Trump framed migration as an internal threat:“We're under invasion from within, no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways, because they don't wear uniforms.” He blamed what he described as“radical left lunatics...brilliant people but dumb as hell when it came to common sense” for his concerns over US immigration policy.

Trump tells military brass: A room“never so silent”

Trump remarked on the solemnity of the gathering.“I've never walked into a room so silent before,” Trump said, prompting laughter from some officers.“Don't laugh, you're not allowed to do that. Just have a good time. And if you want to applaud, you applaud. And if you don't like what I'm saying, you can leave the room. Of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future.”

He encouraged the audience to“feel nice and loose,” blending humor with sternness.

Praise and threats in the same breath

Before departing for the event, Trump struck a sharper tone, telling reporters he would fire military leaders“on the spot” if he did not like them.

The threat contrasted with his earlier remarks over the weekend, when he said he planned to use the Quantico meeting to express affection.“I want to tell the generals that we love them, they're cherished leaders, to be strong, be tough and be smart and be compassionate,” he said in an interview.

The Pentagon has seen sweeping changes in Trump's eight months in office - from firings to ordering lethal strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela.

The administration has also expanded National Guard deployments into domestic cities despite objections from local leaders. Trump announced plans on Tuesday to send Guard units to Chicago, after earlier deployments to Los Angeles and Portland.

Hegseth slams diversity initiatives

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized what he called decades of decay in the US military, targeting“fat generals” and diversity programs. Speaking to a rare gathering of top commanders , Hegseth warned officers they should resign if they do not support his agenda.

“Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the 'Woke Department,'” Hegseth said.“But not anymore.”

Defends controversial firings

Hegseth addressing the audience of senior generals and admirals, summoned from around the world without prior explanation, defended his decision to fire several officers.

“If the words I'm speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” he said.

“I know the overwhelming majority of you feel the opposite. These words make your hearts full.”

Revamping fitness and appearance standards

The Defense Secretary also criticized physical fitness and grooming standards in the military . He called out overweight officers and emphasized a return to stricter benchmarks and professional appearance.

“It's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon,” Hegseth said.

“The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos.”

Also Read | Gaza peace plan proposal: Trump says Hamas has 3 or 4 days to respond

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