Army policy prohibits partisan displays, and most service members refrained from cheering.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/13/trump-rally-gop-fort-bragg/
It was not the first time Trump gave an overtly political speech in a military setting, breaking the tradition of keeping the armed forces separate from partisan politics. He told assembled generals and admirals in September the country was “under invasion from within,” and his visit here in June to mark the Army’s 250th birthday featured a booth selling partisan paraphernalia....
“You have to vote for us,” Trump told the troops, citing his restoration of the Fort Bragg name after Congress directed the Pentagon to rename military installations honoring Confederate officers. (The Trump administration avoided the law by renaming the base after Pfc. Roland L. Bragg, rather than the original Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg.)
“If we don’t win the midterms, they’ll take it off again,” Trump said. “They’ll take it off again. You can’t let that happen.”
Most of the uniformed service members refrained from reacting during Trump’s speech other than raising phones to take photos or videos. They mostly left the applause and cheers to his staff and the assembled Republican politicians, including the home state’s Sen. Ted Budd and Reps. Richard Hudson, Brad Knott and David Rouzer. A few service members responded enthusiastically when Trump asked who had received the $1,776 bonus checks he approved in December.
Defense Department policy prohibits partisan political activity by active-duty service members. “The Army as an institution must be nonpartisan and appear so too,” the Army field manual reads. “Nonpartisanship assures the public that our Army will always serve the Constitution and our people loyally and responsively.”
A federal law known as the Hatch Act restricts government employees from campaigning in their official capacity. The law does not apply to the president....
Democrats have criticized Trump for past military speeches and parades, as well as for deploying the National Guard for political objectives such as patrolling the southern border or policing the nation’s capital. Amid questions about the legality of the military’s strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, six Democratic lawmakers who served in the armed forces released a video reminding service members that their oath is to the Constitution, and they should not follow illegal orders; Trump called the video seditious, punishable by execution.
trump should not be doing campaign events at military bases before the troops. I am glad that most of the military personnel obey regulations and did not applaud
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