Trump will speak at an urgently convened military meeting, according to an AP source.

Trump to speak at hastily convened meeting of military leaders, AP says By CHRIS MEGERIAN undefined WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will speak at a hastily convened meeting of top military leaders on Tuesday, according to a person with knowledge of his plans.

Hundreds of generals and admirals—senior commanders of one-star rank and above and their top advisers—have been summoned from around the world to the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, with little notice from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The person was not authorized to discuss the president's plans ahead of a public announcement about his attendance and spoke on condition of anonymity.

News of the meeting broke Thursday, and Trump appeared unaware when first questioned by reporters during an Oval Office appearance.

"I'll be there if they want me, but why is this such a big deal?" Trump said.

Trump's participation in the meeting increases the likelihood of a politicized event in front of a nonpartisan audience of military leaders. In June, he delivered campaign-style remarks to uniformed personnel at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, attacking his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.

The Republican president is also expanding the use of the military in American cities, arguing that it is necessary to combat crime.

The National Guard continues to patrol in the District of Columbia, and a smaller deployment is expected in Memphis, Tennessee. On Saturday, Trump announced he would also send troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect against "domestic terrorists."

Despite objections from local and state officials, Trump previously deployed the National Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles, where protests against mass immigration detentions have erupted.

The Pentagon's top spokesman previously confirmed that Hegseth "will address his senior military leaders early next week."

Across the military, there are 800 generals and admirals of all ranks. Many command thousands of service members and are stationed around the world in more than a dozen countries and time zones.

The Washington Post was the first to report Trump's plans to attend the meeting.

Trump will speak at an urgently convened military meeting, according to an AP source.