Donald Trump urges generals to fight 'enemy within' in deeply troubling escalation

Donald Trump urged US military generals to help him fight "the enemy from within" in a deeply troubling escalation of his war on political opponents.

And he appeared to pave the way for illegal use of the military to crack down on protesters and for police actions.

Hundreds of leading generals were summoned at short notice for the US President's sinister speech, with many being forced to travel from conflict zones across the world.

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On arrival, were berated and threatened by "Secretary of War", Pete Hegseth, who complained there were too many "fat" Generals and Admirals in the Pentagon - ordering all of them to pass physical training and height and weight standards every year of service.

And he vowed to tear up "stupid" and "politically correct rules of engagement", which the military abide by in order to avoid being accused of war crimes.

Ahead of the showdown, Trump told reporters: "I'm going to be meeting with generals and admirals and leaders. And if I don't like somebody I'm going to fire them right on the spot."

In a shocking politicisation of the military, Trump directly attacked his political opponents from the stage, saying: "They did not treat you with respect. They're Democrats, they never do."

And he appeared to be softening the ground for ordering more of the military to deploy within the US - a major departure from previous Presidents, and most likely a breach of the law.

"History is filled with military heroes who took on foreign and domestic threats," he argued. "We also have domestic. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, George Bush and others used the armed forces to keep domestic order and peace

"Many of our leaders used the military to keep peace. Now they say you aren't allowed to use the military."

In reality, using the military for domestic policing has been banned since 1878, under the Posse Comitatus Act.

"San Francisco and Chicago, New York, Los Angeles," he reeled off. "We'll straighten them out one-by-one. It will be a major part for some in this room. It's a war too. It's a war from within."

There was nervous laughter when Trump arrived on stage, as he told military top brass: "If you want to applaud, you applaud...and if you don't like what I'm saying, you can leave the room. There goes your rank and there goes your future."