Featured Image Credit: Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics
Jen Thomas
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics
US President Donald Trump is no stranger to a controversial statement or two, and he's told the gathered press that he has no qualms about firing people if he has to.
It should come as no surprise from the man who hosted the US version of The Apprentice, and as anyone who has watched the version with Lord Alan Sugar in, there's a lot of firing and not a whole lot of hiring.
Trump's most recent outrageous claim comes after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth caused panic earlier this week by summoning all of the military's top brass to a meeting in Virginia today (September 30).
At the time, Trump tried to put minds at rest over this 'mysterious' meeting, insisting the impromptu gathering of the head honchos was nothing to worry about and it was going to be a 'very nice' meeting to rally the troops with an 'esprit de corps'.
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However, the President seems to have changed his tune today about the spirit of unity, after he told the press he would happily fire someone if he had to.
He told the media: "I'm going to be meeting with generals and with admirals and with leaders, and if I don't like somebody, I'm going to fire them right on the spot."
Critics reacted on social media, calling him 'pathetic' for the threat.
"For anyone familiar with real leadership, this is just pathetic and weak (and doesn’t bode well btw… )", wrote one.
"In other words, no one can ever speak in his presence, just in case," said another.
"You can't fire top military officials based on vibes..." argued one.
His statement goes along with a speech given by Defence Secretary Hegseth, telling the gathered leaders to 'embrace' the new way of the MAGA military or resign.
Trump was speaking to reporters at the White House before he headed to Virginia, where Hegseth had gathered the military leaders together.
Hegseth also said in his speech that the military needs to have fewer restrictions and be less 'woke', as well as calling out 'fat soldiers'.
He said: "For too long, we've promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons, based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts."
Hegseth added they would be re-addressing 'so-called toxic leadership, bullying and hazing to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second guessing.'
He warned those gathered that if his words were 'making your heart sink, then you should do the honourable thing and resign'.
Trump then took to the stage and commented on the lack of applause, telling them: "If you don't like what I'm saying you can leave the room, of course there goes your rank, there goes your future."
He continued: "You just feel nice and loose, OK, because we're all on the same team.
"You're all based on merit. We're not going to have somebody taking your place for political reasons, because they are politically correct, and you're not."