The White House on Thursday downplayed plans for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to convene top military leaders next week amid speculation about the purpose for the meeting.

“It’s not particularly unusual that generals who report to the secretary of War and then to the president of the United States are coming to speak with the secretary of War,” Vice President JD Vance said in the Oval Office. “It’s actually not unusual at all and I think it’s odd that you’ve made it into such a big story.”

President Trump suggested the generals would be “touring equipment sites” and “talking about the newest weapons.”

“I think it’s great when generals and top people want to come to the United States to be with our now-secretary of War,” Trump said.

The comments came from the Oval Office, just after T

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