President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON – Although the military is designed to handle foreign threats, President Donald Trump emphasized his vision of using it for domestic purposes during a speech to top U.S. military officials on Tuesday.

“It’s the enemy from within and we have to handle it before it gets out of control,” the president said. His remarks referred to criminals and immigrants who are in the country illegally.

Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the unusual gathering of hundreds of U.S. military leaders who were abruptly summoned to Virginia from around the world for an unveiling of new directives to end “woke” culture in the military.

The president has already demonstrated an eagerness to deploy troops against U.S. citizens, having deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement protests earlier this year and most recently in Portland, despite objections from leaders in both states.