President Donald Trump on Tuesday vowed to expand the use of U.S. military forces to address unrest in American cities, warning of what he described as a “war from within” and likening domestic threats to foreign enemies.
Speaking to nearly 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted advisors gathered at a military base in Quantico, Virginia, Trump criticized Democratic-run cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, calling them unsafe and promising to “straighten them out one by one.”
“That’s a war too. It’s a war from within,” Trump told the assembled officers, many of whom had traveled from around the world at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The president said he had ordered the creation of new military “quick reaction forces” to quell what he described as civil disturbances, suggesting that troubled cities could be used as “training grounds” for troops. Such moves would challenge the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which restricts the use of federal military forces for domestic law enforcement.
Trump’s remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of his reliance on the armed forces to handle domestic unrest during his second term. In recent months, he has dispatched troops to several cities, fueling concerns over the suppression of dissent and the militarization of internal security.
The address also followed the administration’s crackdown on what it terms “left-wing terrorism” after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Federal authorities have since declared Antifa a terrorist organization and launched investigations into liberal-leaning philanthropic groups.
“Our history is filled with military heroes who took on all enemies, foreign and domestic,” Trump said, arguing that his actions are consistent with the military oath of service. “Many of our leaders used the military to keep peace. Now they like to say, ‘Oh, you’re not allowed to use the military.’”
Despite the fiery rhetoric, the assembled officers offered no applause at the start of his speech, maintaining the tradition of refraining from political displays. The silence prompted Trump to remark, “I’ve never walked into a room so silent. If you want to applaud, you can applaud. If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room—of course, there goes your rank and your future.”
The president also used the speech to attack his political rivals, accusing former President Joe Biden of mismanaging immigration and allowing criminals to enter the country. “They did not treat you with respect. They’re Democrats, they never do,” he said.
Trump concluded by promising that his administration would continue to take aggressive action to combat what he described as threats within America’s borders.
