Ex-General Ben Hodges Suggested Upcoming Gathering of Top Brass Mirrors 1935 Nazi Loyalty Oath; Administration Defends Event
War Secretary Pete Hegseth has swiftly dismissed comments from a former top general who implicitly compared an upcoming meeting of senior military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, to a Nazi loyalty test.
The controversy centers on a post on X by Ben Hodges, formerly Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe, who suggested the gathering of generals and admirals from across the world is comparable to an assembly of generals in Weimar Germany in 1935, where they were allegedly forced to swear an oath of personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler instead of the constitution.
Hegseth’s response to the former general was brief and mocking. He simply quote-replied to the message with, “Cool story, General.”
Fueling Wild Speculation
The unusual order for a surprise meeting of top military brass for an undisclosed purpose has fueled wild speculation in both the media and among partisans online.
Despite the heightened rhetoric, President Donald Trump offered a muted characterization, saying he thinks “it’s great when generals and top people want to come to the United States to be with our now-Secretary of War.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed this, blasting mainstream media for making the meeting “into such a big story” and insisting that such a meeting shouldn’t be characterized as unusual.
However, the administration has yet to provide a detailed explanation of the meeting’s purpose, which contributes to the continued scrutiny. The Pentagon has deferred to an initial statement by spokesperson Sean Parnell.
History of ‘Erroneous’ Comparisons
The Trump administration is no stranger to “erroneous” Nazi comparisons from political opponents and some media outlets. Critics have blamed such rhetoric for the rise in left-wing political violence, citing events such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the recent Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office shooting.
Secretary Hegseth’s quick and dismissive retort signals the administration’s intention to mock and shut down what they consider to be hyperbolic reactions to an official military scheduling matter.
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