Trump declares ‘reawakening’ of ‘warrior spirit,’ unwavering support for military: ‘I have your backs’

President Donald Trump told senior military leaders that he supports them during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump speaks to a gathering of top U.S. military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Quantico, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump said that the Navy, Air Force and Space Force have all met or surpassed their recruiting goals after recruitment struggles under the Biden administration, and laid out changes that his administration is bringing to the military.

President Donald Trump is greeted by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth before speaking to a gathering of top U.S. military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Quantico, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

"The apparatus of our country was not set up for merit," Trump said. "It was set up for political correctness. And you can never be great if you're going to do that."

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"We will not be politically correct when it comes to defending American freedom, and we will be a fighting and winning machine," he continued. "We want to fight. We want to win, and we want to fight as little as possible."

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-declares-reawakening-warrior-spirit-unwavering-support-military-i-have-your-backs