President Donald Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for politicizing the military. He has repeatedly used military installations to stage openly partisan rallies, and he addressed the graduating class at West Point in 2025 while wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Despite opposition from many governors, he has called for deploying the National Guard and the reserves to largely Democratic cities as part of his deportation program. There are fears that this is a prelude to what he will do during the upcoming elections. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also spoken in explicitly political terms. At the start of his term, Trump removed several top military officials in order to install figures more squarely aligned with his political vision. In October 2025, Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a veteran and a Democrat, warned, “America’s apolitical military was constructed deliberately by leaders who understood that republics die when generals and soldiers become political pawns.” He added, “President Trump is systematically dismantling this bedrock principle—brazenly, repeatedly, and with apparent pride.”

These developments have understandably raised serious concerns. Once the military becomes another instrument of partisan conflict, Americans will find it far more difficult to trust government officials when they see troops deployed in dangerous situations. They will struggle to hear from military leaders without questioning the political motives behind their statements. And they may increasingly wonder whether the use of lethal force—abroad or even at home—is being shaped, at least in part, to improve one party’s prospects on Election Day.

President Donald Trump has faced bipartisan criticism for politicizing the military. He has repeatedly used military installations to stage openly partisan rallies, and he addressed the graduating class at West Point in 2025 while wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Despite opposition from many governors, he has called for deploying the National Guard and the reserves to largely Democratic cities as part of his deportation program. There are fears that this is a prelude to what he will do during the upcoming elections. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has also spoken in explicitly political terms. At the start of his term, Trump removed several top military officials in order to install figures more squarely aligned with his political vision. In October 2025, Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a veteran and a Democrat, warned, “America’s apolitical military was constructed deliberately by leaders who understood that republics die when generals and soldiers become political pawns.” He added, “President Trump is systematically dismantling this bedrock principle—brazenly, repeatedly, and with apparent pride.”

These developments have understandably raised serious concerns. Once the military becomes another instrument of partisan conflict, Americans will find it far more difficult to trust government officials when they see troops deployed in dangerous situations. They will struggle to hear from military leaders without questioning the political motives behind their statements. And they may increasingly wonder whether the use of lethal force—abroad or even at home—is being shaped, at least in part, to improve one........

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