Donald Trump’s Pentagon remarks drew widespread attention after he repeatedly referred to a recently dismissed Army general, Brett Sylvia, as “she.” The misgendered references occurred while he was answering a series of questions from reporters.
The exchange came as Trump defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest leadership changes at the Pentagon. The moment quickly circulated online, adding to the discussion surrounding the administration’s recent military shake-up.
Donald Trump calls Brett Sylvia ‘she’ during press exchange
On Thursday, Donald Trump was asked about Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia while speaking with reporters before departing Washington for South Carolina. Responding to questions about the dismissal, the president referred to the fired Army general as “she.” “She’s got problems,” Trump said. “She’s gonna have big problems. We’re very much looking for leakers.”
Sylvia is a male three-star Army general who recently lost his position as the Pentagon’s top military planner on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. No one present corrected Trump’s remarks during the exchange.
The comments quickly spread across social media. Some users mocked his apparent mistake for using “she” instead of “he.” A user further wrote, “He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He knows nothing about the situation.” Another joked that Trump was “always on top of knowing his military leaders.”
Sylvia’s dismissal came as Hegseth continues reshaping the military’s senior ranks. He is the second general removed from the influential J5 planning position after Lt. Gen. Joseph McGee’s departure in 2025.
CBS News reported that one official claimed Sylvia failed three polygraph tests linked to alleged classified information leaks. However, two Pentagon sources disputed those claims, leaving questions surrounding the circumstances of his removal.
The latest developments have added to political pressure on Hegseth. Democratic lawmakers have criticized his leadership. Earlier, Rep. Yassamin Ansari introduced articles of impeachment against him in April. Last month, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie has also backed a separate House resolution.
Despite the criticism, Trump stood firmly behind his defense secretary. “He is doing a great job. He is a great warrior,” Trump said, while dismissing calls for Hegseth’s removal and praising his leadership at the Pentagon.
