'It’s a bad look!' Pete Hegseth uses unprecedented meeting to bash 'fat generals'

During the unprecedented and surprise meeting of hundreds of admirals and top U.S. military officials in Virginia Tuesday, Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth railed against what he characterized as a scourge of “fat troops” and “fat generals and admirals,” and announced a series of new physical fitness standards all military members must adhere to going forward.

“If the secretary of War can do regular, hard [physical training], so can every member of our joint force,” Hegseth said, speaking at the event in Quantico, a giant American flag behind him.

“Frankly, it's tiring to look out at combat formations – or really any formation – and see fat troops. Likewise, it's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon. It's a bad look! It is bad, and it's not who we are.”

While a significant share of active service members are considered overweight, each branch has weight requirements for eligibility; the U.S. Army, for instance, requires male members aged 17 to 27 to not exceed a body fat percentage of 26%. Nevertheless, Hegseth went on to announce new standards that would require all service members, be it active or reserve, to meet new weight standards, and to pass regular PT tests.

“So, whether you're an airborne ranger or a chair-borne ranger, a brand new private or a four-star general, you need to meet the height and weight standards and pass your PT test,” Hegseth continued. “There is no PT test, but today, at my direction, every member of the joint force at every rank is required to take the PT test twice a year, as well as meet height and weight requirements twice a year. Every year of service!”

Much speculation had surrounded the meeting after hundreds of top U.S. military officials were suddenly called to return to Washington, D.C., though for at least its first 40 minutes, most of it consisted of Hegseth railing against diversity, equity and inclusion policies within the military.

The meeting was also criticized by several veteran service members, including retired Navy Admiral James Starvridis, who called the event a “security risk” considering the concentration of military and Trump administration officials in one location.