What’s the difference between the flight deck of a mighty US aircraft carrier and a MAGA rally? Not much in the mind of President Donald Trump.
The commander in chief used a speech on the USS George Washington, moored in Japan Tuesday, to revive 2020 election falsehoods and to campaign for his constitutionally questionable plan to send troops into US cities.
Once, such political activity using the military as a backdrop would have provoked shock back home. But Trump has infringed so many customs of the presidency that it came as no surprise.
The president recently had service members cheering a deeply partisan speech at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that troubled many former senior officers. He staged a parade through Washington to mark the Army’s 250th anniversary — which coincided with his birthday. He rambled in a speech before top brass flown from around the globe in Virginia last month. The generals and admirals were also treated to an anti-“woke” screed from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
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