Troops Behind Trump Screened For Looks And Loyalty

Military.com reports:

As Trump viciously attacked his perceived political foes, he whipped up boos from the gathered troops directed at California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom — amid the president’s controversial move to deploy the National Guard and Marines against protesters in Los Angeles — as well as former President Joe Biden and the press. The soldiers roared with laughter and applauded Trump’s diatribe in a shocking and rare public display of troops taking part in naked political partisanship.

Internal 82nd Airborne Division communications reviewed by Military.com reveal a tightly orchestrated effort to curate the optics of Trump’s recent visit, including handpicking soldiers for the audience based on political leanings and physical appearance. The troops ultimately selected to be behind Trump and visible to the cameras were almost exclusively male. One unit-level message bluntly said “no fat soldiers.”

Read the full article. Excellent journalism. Reports about the “no fat soldiers” directive began circulating on X shortly after Trump made the speech on Tuesday.

White Privilege may trump everything.
But it will not stop a bullet.
Stay cool.
——
Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump’s Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance https://t.co/oFFjuKNHaF pic.twitter.com/LKYtLwHXR8

— Abraham (@WayTooChilly) June 12, 2025

This needs to be shared widely:

Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump’s Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearancehttps://t.co/FmrcXV79Fu

— James F. McGrath (@ReligionProf) June 12, 2025