The meeting at the Marine Corps museum in Virginia gathered hundreds of generals in the US defense force. Many of them flew in from their postings around the world with short notice, without knowledge of the purpose of the meeting.
On site, Trump and Hegseth outlined a new direction for the world's most powerful military force.
A war "from the inside"
While Hegseth, now Minister of War since the defense department changed its name to the war department, dictated that the military's task is warfare, Trump explained where the intended battlefield is located.
The Democrats control most of the cities that are in poor condition. San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles are all very insecure, and we will fix them one by one. We should use some of these dangerous cities as a training facility for our military, said Trump from the podium.
The US is waging a war "from the inside" and the military leaders who do not like his new strategy should "do the honorable thing and resign", continued the president.
"Constitutionally dangerous"
It is very remarkable. What Trump is saying is that you must agree to be deployed nationally, or you can think about something else in your career. What Trump is doing is constitutionally dangerous, says Magnus Christiansson.
One should use the US means as a training facility for the military, which challenges the entire American constitution.
He means that the principle of separation of powers is central to the US Constitution, but that it is now being challenged by the Trump administration.
Trump is constantly balancing on the borders of what is legal and hundreds of legal processes are ongoing against the White House.
"Difficult to predict"
But what the Trump administration's overall goal is, is difficult to predict, notes Christiansson.
Trump is not known for having clear plans, but it is more uncertain whether his administration has one.
This sends yet another signal that we cannot rely on the US making wise decisions.
