When President Donald Trump celebrated the Army’s 250th birthday at Fort Bragg this week, the troops standing behind him on camera weren’t just randomly chosen.
According to internal communications from the 82nd Airborne Division obtained by Military.com, the soldiers were carefully picked based on how they looked and their political views.
Soldiers Selected for Looks and Politics
One message made it clear that there could be “No fat soldiers,” highlighting an emphasis on appearance.
Another memo instructed that if soldiers held political views opposing the current administration and didn’t want to be in the audience, they should speak with their leaders and get replaced.
This meant the crowd behind Trump was mostly white and male — and politically supportive.
Audience Booed Political Figures and the Press
During Trump’s speech, the crowd booed California’s Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who have been vocal critics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
They also booed former President Joe Biden and the media, while laughing loudly at Trump’s jabs at his successor.
Military Rules on Political Neutrality
These actions raised questions because the Department of Defense has strict rules about keeping the military politically neutral.
The Army’s own field manual stresses that soldiers must not favor any political party or group, ensuring the military serves the Constitution and the American people impartially.
Soldiers can take part in political activities, but only as private citizens and never while in uniform.
Troops’ Political Reactions Raise Eyebrows
One noncommissioned officer from the 82nd Airborne said the soldiers’ behavior during the event clearly showed they were expressing political opinions while in uniform, which is against military rules.
He even doubted many of them knew who the political figures they booed really were.
Pentagon Defends Soldiers and Dismisses Concerns
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the soldiers, dismissing investigations as “a disgraceful attempt to ruin the lives of young soldiers.”
He also joked that no one needs encouragement to boo the media, implying that their reactions were not unusual.
No Disciplinary Action Expected
Even if the troops did break rules, some Army officials told Military.com that the soldiers probably won’t face consequences since they were acting under the influence of the Commander-in-Chief himself.
Controversy Over Pro-Trump Vendor at Army Base
Adding to the controversy, a pop-up shop run by 365 Campaign, an Oklahoma retailer selling pro-Trump gear, was operating on Army property during the event.
Soldiers were seen buying items like “Make America Great Again” chain necklaces and even fake “White Privilege” credit cards.
Fort Bragg’s spokeswoman, Col. Mary Ricks, said they’re now reviewing how the vendor was allowed on base to prevent this from happening again.
