Trump calls for using U.S. cities as a 'training ground' for military

In a rare gathering with U.S. military commanders, President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed using American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and spoke of needing U.S. military might to combat what he called the "invasion from within."

Delivering an address to the assembled admirals and generals in Quantico, Virginia, Trump, joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth floated the idea of using deployments to U.S. cities as "training grounds for our military."

These top U.S. military officials were summoned on short notice last week to the impromptu event.

Hegseth introduced 10 new directives aimed at strengthening the department's people and culture, slamming beards and bulging bellies in troops.

"The era of unprofessional appearance is over. No more beardos," Hegseth told the audience, which sat in silence.

He also promised sweeping changes to how the Pentagon handles discrimination complaints and investigates accusations of wrongdoing. He said the current system has top brass walking on "egg shells."

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

(With input from Reuters)