U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech at a meeting of all military commanders held at Quantico Marine Corps Base on the 30th (local time). Yonhap News. 

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 30th (local time), "As you know, I have rebuilt our nuclear arsenal, and I will be upgrading it."

During a 72-minute speech at a meeting of military commanders held at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia, President Trump made these remarks before adding, "That power is so immense that we must hope we never have to use it."

President Trump also noted, "We recently received some threats from Russia, and so we sent the most lethal nuclear submarines ever built."

This refers to his directive last month to deploy two nuclear submarines to "appropriate regions" as a response to Russian nuclear threats.

He continued, "We are 25 years ahead of Russia and China in submarine technology. Russia is actually second in submarines, and China is third. But they are catching up. They are currently far behind in nuclear capabilities as well, but in five years, they will be equal."

President Trump further explained the rationale behind his border control and immigration enforcement policies, saying, "With all of you here, we have reclaimed the fundamental principle that 'protecting the homeland is the military's first and most important priority.'"

He stated, "The United States is being invaded from within. After spending trillions of dollars guarding borders elsewhere, with your help, we are now securing our own borders and rapidly stopping the invasion from within."

Highlighting the reduction in crime rates following the deployment of National Guard troops to cities like Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, he added, "I told Pete (Secretary of Defense Hegseth) that we should use these dangerous cities as training bases for the military and National Guard," noting, "We will be going to Chicago soon."

Most of the cities where President Trump has deployed or is considering deploying military troops for public safety support are strongholds of the Democratic Party.

In his speech before the gathered generals, President Trump emphasized managing the military based on "merit" rather than "political correctness."

President Trump mentioned that, following a Supreme Court ruling, "Everything is now based on merit, and we will not allow anyone to take your place for political reasons."

The ruling he referred to is the 2023 Supreme Court decision declaring university affirmative action policies unconstitutional.

He emphasized, "We are refocusing on physical fitness, capability, character, and strength, because the purpose of the United States military is not to protect anyone's feelings, but to defend the Republic we love."

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech at a meeting of all military commanders held at Quantico Marine Corps Base on the 30th (local time). Yonhap News. 

Additionally, President Trump urged the Palestinian militant group Hamas to agree to his proposed "Gaza Peace Initiative."

He said, "We need one more signature, and if they don't sign it, they will pay a heavy price. I hope they sign it for their own benefit and create something truly great."

President Trump announced the "Gaza Peace Initiative" the previous day to end the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, which has dragged on for nearly two years. Israel has agreed to the plan, but Hamas has yet to issue an official response.

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, President Trump stated, "We must resolve this issue with President Putin and President Zelenskyy. We need to get them to sit down together and settle it. But the only way to do that is through strength. If we were weak, they wouldn't even answer my calls. But we have immense power."

Having cast himself as a "peacemaker" mediating global wars and conflicts, President Trump addressed the possibility of him receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, "They would give it to someone who has done nothing. It would be a great insult to our country."

He then added, "I want the country (the U.S.) to receive it."

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who spoke before the President, also emphasized that the U.S. military would focus solely on enhancing combat readiness rather than social issues such as race or gender equality.

Hegseth said, "Foolish and reckless political leaders lost the compass and we lost our way. We became a 'woke' department, but no more."

Hegseth warned, "The era of leadership that is politically correct, overly sensitive, and concerned about not hurting anyone's feelings is over. At every level, you must meet the standards and be able to perform your duties; if you cannot follow discipline, stay healthy, and train, you are out."

He announced that effective immediately, standards for all military branches would be restored to the "highest male standards" and that basic military training would be intensified.

Yonhap News