Morning Brief: Trump to Address Top US Military Leaders, US Marines Meet Recruiting Goal, Armed Border Patrol in Chicago

· Guy D. McCardle

Armed Border Patrol agents march in downtown Chicago. (Image grab via X)

It’s Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and Washington is bracing for a rare gathering as Trump addresses top generals and admirals at Quantico. The Marines hit their recruiting goal, but Border Patrol arrests in Chicago sparked outrage as federal deployments spread. Abroad, Trump and Netanyahu unveiled a Gaza peace plan awaiting Hamas’s reply, Germany warned Europe is “no longer at peace” with Russia, and a German aide was jailed for spying for China. Russia pressed in Donetsk, a car bomb ripped through a Pakistani paramilitary HQ, and Japan deepened defense ties with the US as the USS Ohio submarine docked in the Philippines. In Indonesia, rescuers are racing after a deadly school collapse.

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Trump to Address Top US Military Leaders at Unusual Quantico Gathering

President Donald Trump will attend a hastily arranged meeting of hundreds of US generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday, a White House official confirmed.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned senior commanders and their advisers from around the world with little notice, making the gathering unusual in both scale and timing.

Trump, who was not originally scheduled to participate, said he plans to discuss US military strength and progress.

His attendance raises the prospect of political overtones, as he has previously delivered campaign-style remarks to uniformed troops and expanded military deployments in US cities.

The National Guard remains active in Washington, D.C., with new deployments planned for Memphis and Portland, despite opposition from local leaders.

The Pentagon has confirmed Hegseth will address the assembled commanders.

 

US Marines Meet Recruiting Goal as US Military Rebounds from Years of Shortfalls

The US Marine Corps reported it met its 2025 recruiting target, enlisting 30,536 enlisted personnel and 1,792 officers — exceeding goals by just three people — while avoiding overrecruitment beyond congressionally authorized limits.

The achievement follows similar announcements from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, all of which said they met their recruiting goals months ahead of schedule after years of shortfalls caused by COVID-19, labor market pressures, and rising fitness and academic hurdles for young Americans.

Unlike other branches, the Marines did not expand eligibility or offer large bonuses. Instead, they maintained high entry standards and emphasized a long-standing recruiting culture.

Officials said the Corps’ small size and distinct identity allow it to succeed where larger services struggle.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration have touted the turnaround as a political win, though many of the recruiting programs predate Trump’s return to office.

Marines are also in the spotlight politically, with recent deployments in US cities and the Caribbean tied to Trump administration policies.

 

Border Patrol Operations in Downtown Chicago Spark Outrage as Federal Deployments Expand

Armed Border Patrol agents made arrests near major landmarks in downtown Chicago over the weekend, escalating federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration and drawing sharp criticism from Illinois leaders.

Governor JB Pritzker warned that 100 National Guard troops may also be deployed to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, despite objections from state officials.

Activists accused agents of racial profiling, with reports of Latino families being detained near tourist sites.

Similar tensions are unfolding elsewhere: Oregon officials are suing to block a federal troop deployment in Portland, Memphis residents fear a surge of immigration enforcement during a crime crackdown, and Louisiana’s governor has requested the National Guard for several cities.

The federal government says the measures are necessary to maintain order, while critics call them politically motivated and discriminatory.

 

Trump Unveils 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan, Backed by Netanyahu but Awaiting Hamas Response

President Trump released a 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing support after their White House meeting.

The proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire, full hostage release within 72 hours, and staged Israeli withdrawal tied to demilitarization. It outlines the creation of a temporary technocratic Palestinian governing committee under international oversight, chaired by Trump and including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The plan includes amnesty and safe passage for Hamas members who disarm, large-scale humanitarian aid, Gaza redevelopment through an international economic initiative, and a US-led International Stabilization Force to oversee security.

Hamas is reviewing the plan via Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries.

Trump emphasized no forced displacement of Palestinians and said the framework could eventually open a pathway toward Palestinian statehood if reforms are completed.

 

FBI Director Patel Gifted Replica Pistols to NZ Security Chiefs, Weapons Destroyed Under Gun Laws

During a July visit to New Zealand, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel presented replica pistols as part of display stands to three top security officials, but the gifts were later destroyed after regulators deemed them potentially operable and illegal under the country’s strict gun laws.

Recipients included the police commissioner and heads of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), who sought advice from firearms authorities before surrendering the items.

Patel was in Wellington to open the FBI’s first standalone office in New Zealand, a move that drew attention after his remarks about countering China’s influence caused mild diplomatic unease.

New Zealand strengthened gun controls after the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, treating 3D-printed weapons like other firearms.

 

Germany’s Merz Says Europe ‘No Longer at Peace’ With Russia, Backs Use of Frozen Assets for Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday that while Europe is “not at war,” it is “no longer at peace” with Russia, describing Moscow’s actions as an attack on democracy and freedom.

Speaking in Duesseldorf, Merz endorsed the European Union plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense, saying it could sustain military support for three to five years and eventually make the war economically unsustainable for Russia.

 

Ex-Assistant to German Far-Right MEP Sentenced for Spying for China

A German court sentenced Jian Guo, a former aide to far-right European Parliament lawmaker Maximilian Krah, to four years and nine months in prison Tuesday for spying for China.

Prosecutors said Guo, a German citizen, passed information on European Union Parliament negotiations to Chinese intelligence between September 2019 and April 2024 and also monitored Chinese dissidents in Germany. He denied wrongdoing.

Krah, who testified as a witness, said he was unaware of Guo’s activities.

Earlier this month, German authorities lifted Krah’s parliamentary immunity to investigate separate allegations of ties to China and corruption, which he denies.

The case adds to wider concerns in Europe about Chinese espionage and comes as Krah’s far-right AfD party gains political influence despite being shunned by mainstream parties.

 

Russia Claims Capture of Two Donetsk Villages as Ukraine Reports Gains Near Dobropillia

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday its forces seized the Donetsk region villages of Shandryholove and Zarichne, northeast of Sloviansk, as part of their push westward.

Ukraine did not confirm the loss but said its counter-offensive near Dobropillia had recaptured 175 square kilometers (67.5 square miles) of territory.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as difficult in Kupiansk and other areas but said Ukrainian forces were holding their positions.

Russia continues to announce daily advances in eastern and southern Ukraine, though analysts say progress is coming at heavy cost.

 

Car Bomb and Gun Battle Kill at Least 8 Outside Paramilitary HQ in Quetta

Militants detonated a car bomb outside the Frontier Constabulary headquarters in Quetta, Pakistan, on Tuesday, killing at least eight people and wounding several others, officials said.

Four attackers exited the vehicle before the blast and engaged security forces in a gunfight. Authorities confirmed all four assailants were killed.

The explosion, which damaged nearby buildings and cars, was powerful enough to be heard miles away.

No group has claimed responsibility, but suspicion falls on separatist groups active in Balochistan, where attacks on civilians and security forces are frequent. Provincial officials warned the death toll could rise.

 

Japan’s Ishiba Meets South Korea’s Lee in Final Summit Amid Trade Pressures

Outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Busan on Tuesday for their third and likely final summit, as US President Donald Trump’s trade wars drive closer coordination between the two neighbors.

The talks focused on cooperation in areas such as population decline, rural revitalization, artificial intelligence, and shared security challenges, including North Korea’s nuclear program.

Relations between Tokyo and Seoul have improved under Ishiba and Lee, though Ishiba’s departure raises uncertainty given his acknowledgment of Japan’s wartime past and efforts at reconciliation.

Both countries are also managing trade tensions with Washington, with Japan finalizing a $550 billion US investment deal in exchange for reduced tariffs, while South Korea faces disagreements with the US over the structure of its proposed $350 billion package.

No major announcements were expected from the summit.

 

Japan Sends Destroyer to US for Tomahawk Upgrades and Training

Japan’s Aegis destroyer JS Chokai (DDG-176) recently departed Yokosuka Naval Base for a year-long deployment to San Diego, where it will be modified and its crew trained to operate Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The deployment, running from September 2025 to September 2026, marks the first time a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel will be equipped with Tomahawks.

Japan signed a contract in January 2024 to acquire 400 Tomahawks, with deliveries scheduled between fiscal years 2025 and 2027.

Live-fire trials are planned for summer 2026 to confirm readiness.

The upgrade is part of Japan’s accelerated effort to establish long-range stand-off defense capabilities amid security concerns over China, Russia, and North Korea.

Ultimately, all eight of Japan’s Aegis destroyers, along with two new Aegis System Equipped Vessels under construction, will be modified for Tomahawk operations.

 

USS Ohio Submarine Arrives in Philippines in Show of US Naval Power

The US Navy recently confirmed that USS Ohio (SSGN-726), a guided-missile submarine capable of carrying 154 Tomahawk missiles, arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippines on September 23 during its Pacific patrol.

The submarine moored alongside the tender USS Frank Cable (AS-40). One of four ballistic missile submarines retrofitted to carry Tomahawks, Ohio can deploy for up to two years with alternating crews.

The Navy often publicizes SSGN movements as a signal of US strength, and the visit comes as China advances trials of its new aircraft carrier Fujian.

The deployment also underscores expanding US-Philippines defense ties, with increased American naval presence and infrastructure investment at Subic Bay.

Earlier this year, Ohio visited Australia for repairs supported by Frank Cable.

 

Rescue Efforts Continue After Indonesia School Collapse Kills 3, Dozens Feared Buried

Rescuers in East Java, Indonesia, are racing to save students trapped under the rubble of Al Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, which collapsed Monday during an unauthorized expansion.

At least three students were confirmed dead, more than 100 were injured, and 38 remain presumed buried. Rescuers provided oxygen and water to survivors while digging through unstable concrete, though efforts were briefly halted Tuesday due to further collapse risks.

The victims, mostly boys aged 12 to 18, had been praying when the two-story hall, burdened by unpermitted additional floors, gave way.

Families gathered outside hospitals and the site, anxiously awaiting news. Authorities are investigating structural failures as search teams continue to recover victims.

 

Sources: News Agencies