I served proudly in the United States Army for 30 years & 2 1/2 months. I served my last 6 plus years in the grade of Sergeant Major. As many have said in answer to this question, I was nonpartisan and apolitical during those 3 decades.

I had no political party or interests. I was proud to take the oath during my enlistments and re-enlistments to pledge alligiance to THE CONSITITUTION.

Since retiring many years ago, I’ve been proudly Independent but usually siding with the Democrats. Pete Hegseth is a cruel joke as a man and as the purported Secretary of Defense. He was a disgrace during his short time in the military and his drunken antics are a matter of public record.

Qualifications? Well a disgraceful term in the military and a Fox News Host. We all know about “Fox News” and the constant lies and conspiracy theories the “newscasters” spill from their lying mouths. Hegseth caught Trump’s eye from his outlandish broadcasts.

As for Trump, don’t even get me started. Unqualified, self serving, lying SOB and too much more too fit into one sentence. To subject our top officers and enlisted men to the gibberish they put out at that mandatory meeting was possibly the greatest insult to the US military in history.

Hooah to all of them for not clapping and maintaining a grim face throughout the ordeal. I know in my heart and soul that the US military will be the last bastion between Trump, his evil administration, “Project 2025” and their intent to overthrow our democracy.

A BIG FU to the whole rotten, corrupt bunch from this retired Army Sergeant Major!!

Trump recently had all his generals gathered in one place.

They went there, even though unlike Donald J “Stable Genius” Trump, and Pete “Where’s the booze” Hegseth, they well understood it was a huge threat to national security.

Trump stepped on the platform, and expected to be heralded the second coming, the way you see North-Korean generals turn into a pompon-brigade the moment Kim Jong-un starts talking.

He (literally) told an entire room of generals that he never had stood before such a silent audience:

And if you want to applaud, you applaud.
– Donald J Trump

None clapped. None applauded. None cheered.

Several (former) generals have gone on the record to state that what Trump is doing, is a clear violation of US law, and reminded the people that US soldiers don’t “pledge allegiance to a King”, but that they swear loyalty to the constitution of America.

That is about all you need to know in order to answer your question.

He literally begged them to applaud him. They refused.