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President Donald Trump will now attend an unprecedented meeting with roughly 800 of America’s top military leaders tomorrow in Virginia.

Getting into it: The gathering, set to take place at Marine Corps Base Quantico, brings together nearly the entire upper echelon of the US military command (generals, admirals, and their senior enlisted advisors from across the globe). Organized by Secretary of Defense (War) Pete Hegseth, the meeting was announced last week with little notice and no formal agenda, sparking widespread speculation across the defense community. While Trump has described the event as a morale-boosting discussion on military successes and “esprit de corps,” many observers believe it may signal deeper structural shifts, including a potential overhaul of command structures or the rollout of a new National Defense Strategy prioritizing homeland security over foreign deployments.

Despite official claims of a “positive” and unifying message, the secrecy surrounding the agenda has raised eyebrows among lawmakers and military analysts alike. Some believe the meeting could be used to reinforce Hegseth’s “warrior ethos” campaign or even serve as a loyalty test for senior leaders amid recent high-profile dismissals. Others suggest the meeting might be used to justify cuts to the general officer corps, a move Hegseth has already set in motion. Additional discussion on social media has raised other wild theories, such as the US preparing for a war or something to do with 3I/ATLAS (an interstellar object moving near Earth).

This all comes as critics have voiced concern over the necessity and timing of the meeting, questioning why such a large-scale, in-person event was chosen over secure virtual alternatives. They argue that gathering so many top leaders in one physical location is not only resource-intensive, but also operationally risky (especially given the absence of an immediate crisis or a “decapitation strike” targeting the meeting).

Some lawmakers, including Senators Duckworth and Hirono, have requested detailed briefings on the decision-making process behind the event, as well as contingency plans in case of disruption.