'He lost us': Top military leaders unleash on Trump's Pentagon chief

Senior military officers are criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for focusing on appearance and fitness standards rather than strategic military concerns.

The Washington Times reported Tuesday that Hegseth's directives — including mandatory physical fitness tests and grooming requirements — have drawn ire from high-ranking officials. One source described it as “the mentality of a midgrade officer," per the report.

Hegseth's recent gathering of over 800 U.S. generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia also sparked backlash from senior military officials. The meeting was convened on short notice without a clear agenda.

A current Army general told the outlet: “It was a massive waste of time ... If he ever had us, he lost us.”

"Numerous high-ranking officers painted Mr. Hegseth’s Sept. 30 speech to hundreds of generals and admirals gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia as a turning point in how his leadership style, attitude and overall competency are viewed in the upper echelons of the U.S. armed forces," the report read.

Another former Defense Department official described the leadership environment as chaotic, stating, “Even the teams that I was on, people were fired overnight for no given reason.”

Hegseth's emphasis on fitness and appearance reflects his experiences as a junior officer, wrote military analyst Mark F. Cancian last month in an analysis for Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Cancian said Hegseth's remarks lacked discussion on strategy, threats, and warfighting at the operational level.

In response to criticism, Hegseth has defended his approach, stating that upholding high standards is not "toxic."