US President Donald Trump said today that his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will soon announce significant reforms aimed at streamlining the production and accelerating overseas sales of US military equipment, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
"The problem is that we have to deal with the companies that make this military equipment - we make the best equipment in the world, but it has to be made faster," Trump said during a speech to senior US military personnel at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.
Before his meeting, Trump told reporters that he would dismiss any military officer he did not like. Later, on stage at the Quantico base, he began his speech with a joke:
"If you don't like what I'm saying, you can leave this room - of course, your rank will leave with you, your future," the head of state said.
However, he expressed warm words for the US military, noting that some of his statements touched on topics such as the power of US nuclear submarines. At the same time, he sharply criticized the media, his predecessor Joe Biden and Venezuela.
The president spoke in the spirit of Hegseth's comments, emphasizing his opposition to equality initiatives based on diversity.
"Merit. Everything is based on merit. You all stand on your merits. We will not allow someone to take your place for political reasons because they are politically correct and you are not," he said.
"I am with you. I support you and as president I am behind you 100 percent", Trump added.
Reuters notes that the auditorium was filled with uniformed senior military personnel, and a huge American flag was draped on the stage. The podium and behind it read: "Strength. Service. America".
During the speech, some senior officers listened with expressionless faces, and the atmosphere in the hall was quieter than at typical Trump rallies. A naval officer took notes.
The agency recalls that the US military considers itself depoliticized, guided only by the country's Constitution and independent of political parties and movements. This creates pressure for commanding officers, who must refrain from reacting to overtly political comments by Trump and Hegseth, Reuters notes.