In an address at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on Tuesday, President Donald Trump once again targeted California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), former President Joe Biden and the media, urging military personnel to boo reporters in attendance as he lashed out at what he called "fake news."
The president's action of inciting active-duty soldiers to boo those he sees as his opponents has been strongly criticized on social media, including by war veterans.
Paul Rieckhoff, writer and a veteran of the United States Army and the Iraq War, reacted to Trump's remarks and wrote on the social platform X: "This is the most unacceptable and egregious politicization of our troops we’ve ever seen. And it’s not a one off. It’s a strategy. And one we’ll see in full and dangerous display this weekend at his military birthday parade for himself."
He continued: "Trump wants the world to think our great military is HIS military. And wants to coerce and manipulate troops into making them think it is too. And driving down their public trust and approval by the minute. Trump has created America’s greatest civil-military relations crisis since the Civil War. And it’s just getting started."
Writer Rachel Bitecofer said in a post on X: "Trump: the mayor and the governor of LA.
Marines: boooooooo.
I think we know whether or not the marines are going to obey illegal orders from Trump. God help us."
"Once again, deeply worried about the politicization of our Armed Forces, and concerned that this causes deeper damage to the U.S. military down the line than is immediately obvious. This is not how any president should talk to the troops. Our troops serve regardless of party," wroteAaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow with the American Immigration Council.
Journalist Kevin Baron posted: "I warned about this years ago. Trump targets journalists and signals this to young troops. It's the opposite of how respected 4-star leaders have respected and worked with the free press. 4-star generals have apologized to me directly for careless speech that does the same."
Media person Jason Kint wrote: "POTUS pointing to the free and plural press with the military as a backdrop while encouraging boos through a derogatory, discrediting term for the press is antithetical to democracy and what our nation stands for. So disappointed in all involved. It has consequences abroad, too."