Must-reads for anyone in the military –– or who cares about the military –– are transcripts of speeches by Commander in Chief Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Hegseth of Sept. 30, 2025, presented at Marine Corps Base Quantico. (Videos of the speeches can be found online, and transcripts are available and linked below.)
Both Trump and Hegseth commended the senior uniformed leaders for their service and sacrifice, and then provided in-person guidance and direction outlining their vision of the military’s role.
You know, the Democrats run most of the cities that are in bad shape … What they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, they're very unsafe places and we're going to straighten them out one by one. And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That's a war too. It's a war from within."
Trump reflected positively on his deployment of the military in Washington D.C. and announced plans to send troops into Oregon.
“Portland, Oregon, where it looks like a war zone. And I get a call from the liberal governor, ‘Sir, please don't come in, we don't need you.’ I said, ‘Well, unless they're playing false tapes, this looked like World War II. Your place is burning down. I mean, you must be kidding.’ ‘Sir, we have it under control.’ I said, ‘You don't have it under control, governor, but I'll check it and I'll call you back. I called him back, I said, ‘you -- this place is a nightmare.’”
Trump told military leaders they would be directed to “quell civil disturbances” by the enemy from within” in American cities.
“Last month, I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is going to be a big thing for the people in this room because it's the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control. It won't get out of control, once you're involved, at all.”
Trump did not mention the Posse Comitatus Act which prohibits federal military personnel from acting as domestic law enforcement, except when authorized by Congress.
“We fight to win. We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for warfighters."
He said, “Well, today is another liberation day, the liberation of America's warriors, in name, in deed and in authorities. You kill people and break things for a living. You are not politically correct and don't necessarily belong always in polite society.”
Near the end of his remarks Hegeth said, “Lethality is our calling card, and victory our only acceptable end state.”
He also called for military leaders to consider Christian reflection.
“In closing, a few weeks ago, at our monthly Pentagon Christian prayer service, I recited a commander’s prayer. It’s a simple yet meaningful prayer for wisdom for commanders and leaders. I encourage you to look it up if you’ve never seen it, but the prayer, it ends like this: ‘And most of all, Lord, please keep my Soldiers safe, lead them, guide them, protect them, watch over them, and as you gave all of yourself for me, help me give all of myself for them. Amen.’”
His final words were “Move out and draw fire, because we are the War Department. Godspeed.”
Last May, Hegseth began convening monthly Christian prayer services at the Pentagon.
He said, “Knowing that there is an author in heaven overseeing all of this, who has underwritten all of it for us on the cross, gives me the strength to proceed.”
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