Retired Army Major General Randy E. Manner strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s speech to senior military officials during a meeting in Virginia last week, saying they used the officers as “props.”
During a podcast on The Signorile Report posted Thursday, Manner said, "If he truly wanted to say something to the generals and the generals and senior enlisted leaders of the world, hecoulddoitanytimebysettingupasecureZoomcall,essentially.It'snotaZoomcall,butit'sasecureteleconferencecalltobeabletotalktothemaboutanyissues."
He continued: "Thefactthathedidittelevised,reflectsthefactthatthegeneralsandadmiralsandseniorenlistedleaderswere propsandnothingmorethanprops."
"Andit'sverysad,extremelysadthattheadministrationcontinuestogodowninthedepths ofdespairanddesperationbecausethoseanyrespectthatthegeneralsandadmiralsandseniorenlistedleadersmighthavehadforthepersonwhobylawiscalledthecommanderinchief, wasfurtherdiminishedbyaramblingpoliticalspeechthatifanygeneraloradmiral,orforthatmatter,acollegestudenthadbeengivingaspeech,wouldhavereceivedanFintermsofitseffectivenessandforitscohesion."
He said it was "unbelievabletohaveaseniorelectedleadertobequitefranklysoincompetentatspeaking."
Manner, who knew many of the generals in the room in Quantico, Virginia, when Trump and Hegseth gave speeches, said Trump "seems to be slipping quite a bit, even from the campaign, let alone from years ago, into the depths of, quite frankly, self-serving dictatorship.”
He also noted that the attendees were not applauding Trump's speech the way he wanted. During his speech, Trump top military brass to clap for him as he criticized the far-left and the "enemy within."
"SoItoldmanyofmyfriends,family,andafewnetworksthattheonethingthat'sgoingtocomeoutofthisisthepresident'sgoingtobepissedashellthatnoonewasapplaudingandhootingandholleringthewaythathedidwiththe82ndAirborne Division, wherethoseyoungsoldierswerehandpickedasTrumpsupporterstobeabletorespondtohimlikeapoliticalrally," Manner said.
The veteran also mentioned the discipline that military officials are trained to display.
"Seniormilitaryofficersandseniorenlistedleadersaretrainedandeducatedabouttheappropriatewaytoactinfrontoftheirelectedleaders,whichis,bytheway,beingtotallyapolitical," he said.
Manner added: "Theyaretheretofollowalllawfulorders,nottoparticipatelikeapoliticalrally.Anddespitethepresident,andIwon'tcallhimthesecretaryofwhatever,theSecDefsayingthewords,theyweretoldnottoapplaud,that'sc-- -.It'sabsolutelylies.Theywereactingasthetrueapoliticalleadersthattheyare."
He also criticized Hegseth for telling military officials to do whatever it takes to win.
"The idea that the SecDef said, 'I want you to do whatever it takes to win. I don't care what you do. Ignore all the laws of war.' That sounds a lot like the Soviets in World War II, and it sounds like the Russians right now, where they will do anything to civilians. They will do anything to destroy infrastructure, to attack hospitals. They will do anything, 'it takes.'"
He added: "ThatisnottheAmericanway.ThatisnotthewayoftheheritageoftheAmericansoldier.Thatisnotwhatweareknownfor."