12:30 Report is The Hill's midday newsletter. Subscribe here.

It’s Tuesday. Enjoy your government being funded today. *nervously laughs into the void*

In today's issue:

• Hegseth declares war on ‘fat’ generals

• Trump tells military leaders to ‘loosen up’

• Congress careens toward shutdown

• Airlines warn of potential flight delays

• Dems lash out at Trump’s AI video

• Taylor Swift’s late-night blitz

🎖️ AT QUANTICO

What I would give to be able to read these military generals’ minds:

President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were in Quantico, Va., this morning, speaking to top military leaders who were ordered to be there on short notice.

Trump’s 70-minute remarks resembled those from a campaign event, touting his accomplishments and bashing his political rivals, but to an eerily quiet audience of military brass.

“I’ve never walked into a room so silent before,” Trump said as he walked on stage, later joking, “We gotta loosen up these guys a little bit.”

Trump even joked that military leaders could “leave the room” if they didn’t like what he was saying. “Of course, there goes your rank,” Trump added to a few laughs. 📹 Watch the clip

It was a newsy speech but one moment that stands out is when Trump defended using military troops to police American cities. He encouraged military leaders to use U.S. cities as “training grounds,” arguing they are fighting “a war from within."

Hegseth came on stage before Trump, using the meeting he planned with the highest-level generals and admirals gathered from around the world to rail against culture wars.

The Defense secretary riffed about what he believes to be the “right culture" at the department, calling for no more “fat generals” or “beardos.” He also announced he would impose the “highest” male standards for all combat roles in the U.S. military.

More top quotes from Trump and Hegseth:

🎖️ On 2026 military spending: “$1 trillion, that’s a lot of money. I hope you like that, ma’ams and sirs. I hope you like that,” Trump said.

🎖️ Trump wants the Nobel Peace Prize: Trump said it would be an “insult to our country” if he doesn’t get the Nobel Peace Prize.

🎖️ And says there are ‘two N words’: One of which is “nuclear,” according to Trump. “There are two N words. You can’t use either of them. You can’t use either of them.”

🎖️ Trump says he will make the military ‘tougher’ and ‘faster’: “Together over the next few years, we’re going to make our military stronger, tougher, faster, fiercer and more powerful than it has ever been before,” he told the military leaders.

🎖️ Trump bashed Biden: Trump took several swipes at former President Biden, including attacking Biden’s autopen use to sign certain documents. “To me it’s just totally disrespectful. And it turned out almost everything he did was signed by autopen, except for when he gave his son, Hunter, a pardon,” Trump said.

🎖️ Hegseth doesn’t want ‘fat troops’: “Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops,” Hegseth said. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon leading commands around the country and the world.”

Keep in mind: Getting all of these military figures in one place with only a few days’ notice

© The Hill