How Trump’s military speeches violate a 'foundational bedrock principle'

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Members of the military wait for the U.S. President Donald Trump speech, as they attend a meeting convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia, U.S., September 30, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Historically, U.S. presidents have made a clear distinction between how they speak at partisan campaign rallies and how they sound during speeches for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. A speech at West Point Military academy, for example, would have a much different tone from a campaign speech.

But MSNBC's Steve Benen, in his October 28 column, warns that President Donald Trump is violating a "foundational bedrock principle" when he angrily rages against political foes during military speeches that sound a lot like MAGA rallies.

"When the Republican meanders his way through partisan red meat when speaking at a political rally," Benen observes, "it's tiresome but predictable. When he delivers the same message to active-duty military personnel, it's a qualitatively different kind of story."

The "Rachel Maddow Show" producer offers specific examples.

"In June, for example, Trump spoke at Fort Bragg and treated U.S. troops like they were just another MAGA audience, even goading troops to boo (former President) Joe Biden, the free press and American elected officials whom the president doesn't like," Benen observes. "A report in The Bulwark described the display as 'grotesque.' Three months later, he did it again, summoning the nation's generals and admirals to listen to him ramble about tariffs, the Nobel Peace Prize, his hatred for Democrats, his contempt for independent news organizations and his belief that his 2020 election defeat was 'rigged.' A week after that, speaking at an event honoring the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, Trump appeared determined to turn military personnel against the parts of the country he doesn’t like."

Benen continues, "'We have to take care of this little gnat that's on our shoulder called the Democrats,' he said. Speaking to U.S. soldiers aboard the USS George Washington in Yokosuka, Japan, the Republican did it once again. The New York Times noted, 'Trump has been doing this more often at home lately, but it is still striking to see him basically holding what looks and sounds very much like one of his signature political rallies in front of members of the United States military.'"

Benen notes a recent warning from The Atlantic's Tom Nichols, who believes that Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are "making a dedicated run at turning the men and women of the armed forces into Trump's personal and partisan army."

"While I understand the underlying point about conditions that are becoming more routine, this cannot become our 'new normal,'" Benen argues. "An apolitical military is a foundational, bedrock principle of the United States. Partisan, ideological and electoral considerations must be utterly irrelevant to what the military is and how it functions. It is a principle for which Trump appears to have no use."

Steve Benen's full MSNBC column is available at this link.

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