U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of senior Department of Defense officials from the upcoming Aspen Security Forum, citing the event’s promotion of what he described as the “evils of globalism” and hostility toward President Donald Trump.
The move breaks with years of bipartisan tradition in which military leaders routinely participated in the influential conference, which kicks off Tuesday in Aspen, Colorado.
Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson confirmed the decision to Just the News, stating:
“The Secretary believes the Aspen Security Forum promotes the evil of globalism, disdain for our great country, and hatred for the President of the United States.”
Wilson added that the Department of Defense has “no interest in legitimizing an organization that gives a platform to former officials responsible for foreign policy disasters and domestic failures.”
Forum Still Features Trump-Era Figures
Despite the Pentagon’s exit, some current and former Trump administration officials remain on the agenda, including Adam Boehler, presidential envoy for hostage affairs, and Tom Barrack, U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Syria.
The forum will also feature Jake Sullivan, a former Biden national security advisor, and Brett McGurk, who served under both Obama and Biden.
Other high-profile speakers include Mark Esper, former Trump acting defense secretary, David Petraeus, former CIA director, and Condoleezza Rice, who was national security advisor and secretary of state under President George W. Bush.
Pentagon: Aspen Values ‘Do Not Align’
In a follow-up statement, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said the withdrawal reflects a clear values mismatch between the Department and the Aspen Institute.
“Senior Department of Defense officials will no longer be participating at the Aspen Security Forum because their values do not align with the values of the DoD,” Parnell said.
“We remain focused on increasing lethality, revitalizing the warrior ethos, and projecting peace through strength. The Aspen Forum is not aligned with those priorities.”
Forum Responds to Pentagon Snub
In response to the Pentagon’s exit, the Aspen Institute released a statement emphasizing its longstanding role in national security dialogue:
“For more than a decade, the Aspen Security Forum has welcomed senior Republican and Democrat officials—military and civilian—as well as global leaders and experts offering diverse views on critical national security matters. While we’ll miss the Pentagon’s presence, our invitations remain open.”
The decision comes amid broader efforts by Hegseth and the Trump administration to reorient the military toward a more aggressive, nationalist doctrine, with a stated emphasis on “peace through strength” and combat readiness over international engagement and diplomacy.
This is just the latest in a series of sharp breaks with legacy institutions and norms as Trump reshapes the executive branch in his second term.
