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W.J. Hennigan
June 11, 2025
Mr. Hennigan writes about national security issues for Opinion from Washington.
No president in modern history has done more to put the military in the middle of political and cultural crossfire than Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, just one day after he directed active-duty Marines onto the streets of Los Angeles in response to protests against his immigration policies and four days before he plans to oversee an extravagant military parade on his birthday, Mr. Trump stood before a crowd of beret-wearing soldiers at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and dragged them into his own political maelstrom.
While past commanders in chief might have chosen to deliver a speech that celebrated the U.S. Army’s history ahead of the service’s 250th anniversary this weekend, Mr. Trump opted instead for a rambling speech that ridiculed “radical left lunatic” politicians, threatened flag-burning protesters and falsely claimed the 2020 election was “rigged.” He also announced his plan to reverse a Biden administration decision and restore the names of Fort Robert E. Lee and six other military bases honoring former Confederate officers.
“You know what Nov. 5 was? It was the election of a president that loves you,” Mr. Trump said to scattered applause and cheers from the soldiers.
Presidents from both parties have been criticized for politicizing the military, but not one has challenged the military’s time-honored tradition of nonpartisanship as Mr. Trump has. His Fort Bragg speech was just the latest in a string of high-profile efforts to reshape the military more in his own likeness.
It began with his administration’s decision to remove senior officers, many Black and female, from positions on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other command positions reportedly as part of its anti-D.E.I. initiative. It continued with his determination to reinstate and pay former service members who had been discharged after refusing Covid vaccinations in violation of military health mandates. And it was on full display when he sent active-duty troops to create new military zones along the U.S. border with Mexico.
