Trump and Hegseth warn of a “invasion from within” the US—and their military plan has a shocking twist
At Quantico, the president unveiled his vision for the armed forces, from stricter rules to a controversial idea involving America’s most dangerous cities.

President Donald Trump has spent the past week weighing in on Israel, Russia, Gaza—and now, America itself. Speaking for more than 70 minutes before top military leaders at Quantico, Virginia, Trump described what he sees as a grave threat at home.
“We’re under invasion from within,” he declared. “[It’s]no different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms.”
The event, organized as a high-level military conference, was meant to showcase Trump’s new defense strategy, developed alongside his Secretary of Defense/War, Pete Hegseth.
Inside Trump’s new military plan
The proposal includes some sweeping cultural and structural changes for the US Armed Forces. Among them:
- Banning beards and long hair
- Rolling back diversity programs
- Requiring combat roles to meet the toughest male standards
Trump also floated the idea of expanding the size of the military, arguing that an influx of recruits would allow the armed forces to be more selective. “You don’t have to take them anymore because you have -- you have the pick of the litter and they all want to be with you,” he said.
“It’s nice to be able to cut people because of merit that aren’t really qualified for any reason, a physical reason, a mental reason,” he explained.
The “dangerous cities” controversy
Perhaps the most startling proposal of the night came when Trump suggested turning America’s most troubled cities into live training grounds.
“I told Pete [Hegseth], we should use some of these dangerouscities as training grounds for our military. National Guard, but our military,” Trump explained.
Trump to top military officials: "I told Pete, we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military. National Guard, but our military. Because we're going into Chicago very soon. That's a big city with an incompetent governor. Stupid governor." pic.twitter.com/v9gb2OhhcJ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 30, 2025
He singled out Chicago, calling it “a big city with an incompetent governor. Stupid governor‚” adding, “we’re going into Chicago very soon.” He also described witnessing soldiers being harassed on the streets. “You Spit, We Hit,” he warned.
Loyalty over “woke” leadership
Hegseth, echoing Trump’s hardline approach, made it clear that dissent would not be tolerated.
“If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” the Defense Secretary said.
. @secwar "If the words I am speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honorable thing and RESIGN." pic.twitter.com/nEzFOkq978
— DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) September 30, 2025
“Our job—my job—has been to determine which leaders simply did what they must to answer the prerogatives of civilian leadership and which leaders are truly invested in the woke department and therefore incapable of embracing the War Department and executing new lawful orders."
For Trump and Hegseth, the message was clear: America’s military must harden its culture, shed what they call “woke” influence, and prepare to confront what the president calls an invasion—both foreign and domestic.
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