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The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown

Why Did Trump Summon Military Leaders?

The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown

CNN

News

3.2865 Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today's just begins as President Trump prepares to wrap up a lengthy speech at Quantico to a rare gathering of senior US military officers summoned from all over the world. Trump spoke after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who boasted about America's military strength while decrying past DEI policies in that department, vowing to restore the "male standard of physicality in combat positions." Joining the show to discuss is Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath, a former Marine combat fighter pilot, retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz, and former Defense Secretary William Cohen.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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All right, I want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world you're in the

0:42.6

situation room I'm Wolf Blitzer with Pamela Brown we've all been listening for

0:46.9

more than an hour now to President Trump addressing senior US military officers

0:51.6

over at Quantico Virginia this was a rare gathering of top U.S.

0:56.4

military brass from around the world.

0:58.9

As you heard there, President Trump spoke after Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth, who boasted about

1:04.2

America's military strength. He also decried past policies in that department and vowed to

1:09.4

restore a, quote, male standard of physicality in combat positions.

1:14.4

Joining us now is a group of experts to talk about all of this.

1:17.2

We have Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath, who is a former Marine Combat Fighter Pilot.

1:21.6

She's also a former Democratic candidate for Senate in Kentucky.

1:24.8

Also with us, retired Army Lieutenant General Mark Schwartz and former Defense

1:28.9

Secretary under President Clinton William Cohen. Secretary Cohen, let me start with you. You and I

1:35.0

have known each other for a long time. The Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth, as you know,

...

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