Common Defense Slams Trump-Hegseth Military Gathering and Threats to Diversity in the Military
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2025
“This Was a Shameful and Undemocratic Political Theater that Threatens the Objectivity of our Military and the Safety of Our Troops”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Common Defense, a grassroots veterans organization, unequivocally condemns the statements made at the generals’ gathering in Quantico today by President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth.
In response, Naveed Shah, Common Defense’s Political Director and Army Vet, said:
"Today's remarks by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth were a direct attack on the very principles that have made the United States military strong, effective, and representative of the nation it serves. Let’s be clear: what Secretary Hegseth delivered was not a vision for readiness or unity. It was a declaration of war on diversity, inclusion, and the lived experiences of the very Americans who have served this country in uniform.
“By mocking “identity months,” dismantling DEI offices, and telling officers who disagree to resign, Hegseth sent a clear message: if you're a woman, Black or brown, an immigrant, LGBTQ+, or if you're part of the many marginalized communities that make this country great, you are no longer welcome in his version of the military, regardless of years of loyal service.
“This is more insidious than simple political theater. Today Trump and Hegseth declared their intent to rewrite the rules of service, where loyalty to a political agenda matters more than merit. As Veterans who have actually fought to defend our democracy, we know that when ideology takes precedence over commitment to the Constitution, countries descend to fascism.
“Common Defense won’t stand by as those in power try to erase the hard-earned gains of generations of service members to replace them with yes men. We will not let a small group of ideologues hijack the military to serve a political cult. As Veterans, the oath we took was to the Constitution—not to any man.”
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Common Defense Civic Engagementis a grassroots, veteran-led organization (501c4) that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.