Trump Pushes to Align Military Culture with His Political Vision

No recent U.S. president has entangled the military so deeply in political and cultural disputes as Donald Trump has.

On Tuesday, a day after ordering active-duty Marines onto the streets of Los Angeles to respond to protests over immigration policies, and just days before a planned military parade for his birthday, Trump addressed a crowd of beret-clad soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, drawing the armed forces further into his political battles.

Rather than honoring the U.S. Army’s upcoming 250th anniversary with a traditional celebratory address, Trump delivered a meandering speech that criticized "radical left lunatic" politicians, warned against flag-burning demonstrators, and made unfounded claims that the 2020 election was "rigged." He also announced intentions to overturn decisions made during the Biden administration by restoring the names of Fort Robert E. Lee and six other military bases named after Confederate officers.

“You know what November 5th represented? The election of a president who supports you,” Trump declared to intermittent applause and cheers from the assembled soldiers.

While previous presidents from both parties have faced criticism for involving the military in political matters, none have challenged the longstanding tradition of military nonpartisanship as directly as Trump. His Fort Bragg remarks are part of a broader pattern of efforts to mold the military in a way that reflects his political identity.

This approach began with his administration’s removal of senior officers—many of whom were Black and female—from key Joint Chiefs of Staff and command roles, reportedly linked to an anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion stance. It continued with his push to reinstate and compensate service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations, defying military health orders. His strategy was further exemplified by the deployment of active-duty troops to establish new military zones along the U.S.-Mexico border.