Trump says he told Hegseth military should use US cities as ‘training grounds’

Published September 30, 2025 12:02pm ET



President Donald Trump informed hundreds of senior military leaders on Tuesday that he told Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that the military should use “dangerous cities” in the United States as “training grounds for our military.”

The president and secretary have deployed National Guard forces to quell civil unrest in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and have approved missions to Portland, Oregon and Memphis, Tennessee, with several other cities discussed as possible options.

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