Donald Trump’s longstanding effort to turn the U.S. military into a personal, political tool

 

Obsessed with the strongman rule of dictators like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong-Un who often use the military as a political prop or a tool for domestic political enforcement, Donald Trump has long been fascinated with using the military for his own personal, political aims. Throughout his first term, there were endless examples of Trump attempting to deploy the military for his own gain – either on the campaign trail or to suppress or intimidate his political opposition. Today, Trump is following the same playbook by ordering the military to California, bypassing the authority of a state’s governor for the first time in sixty years. 

In Trump’s first term, his efforts were, at times, rebuffed or moderated by military leaders or Trump’s political advisors, who were concerned about undermining the military’s historically apolitical role in American society. Unfortunately, those guardrails have disappeared during Trump’s second Administration – which has been staffed with MAGA loyalists unwilling to restrain the president’s worst instincts. 

Here is a brief outline of how Donald Trump’s fascination with using the military as a political tool has played out – and what it could mean for our country in the years to come.

  • Trump isn’t responding to a crisis – he’s executing a carefully crafted plan. 

    • On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly proposed deploying the U.S. military in Democratically-run cities around the country – creating a pretext for using the armed forces as a tool of domestic law enforcement.

    • Prior to taking office, Trump pledged to send hundreds of thousands of active-duty troops to the southern border, where they could assist in mass deportations and the construction of migrant detention camps. 

    • He threatened to use the military against “the enemy from within,” whom he described as “radical left lunatics,” a moniker that Trump routinely applies to Democratic politicians and activists.

    • Trump publicly stated that he planned on firing many of America’s decorated and experienced military generals who he viewed as insufficiently loyal. Shortly after taking office, Trump followed through on that promise by purging generals and admirals without cause. He also fired the military officers who served as the top lawyers of the Army, Air Force and Navy, whom Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called “roadblocks” to Trump’s orders.

  • Trump has no reservations about deploying the military to achieve his political goals.

    • During unrest that took place after George Floyd’s death, Trump used the military to suppress protests he said made him look “weak.” He asked his military advisors to “just shoot them in the legs or something” and used National Guard troops to clear a peaceful protest near the White House before the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs joined him on the freshly cleared streets for a photo op.

    • Trump has routinely pulled active-duty and reserve troops away from their primary duties to help enforce his immigration policies, diverted billions of dollars from the Pentagon to his border priorities, and ordered DoD to spend billions repurposing Guantanamo Bay to serve as a migrant detention center. Trump also used military aircraft to take part in deportation flights all around the world, costing taxpayers millions of dollars – at times as much as five times more than first class airfare would have cost.

    • Trump recently deployed National Guard troops and Marines to California over the objection of local leaders, bypassing the authority of a state’s governor to deploy the military for the first time since 1965. Trump Administration officials estimated that the deployment would likely cost taxpayers $134 million.

  • Trump routinely uses the United States military as a political prop for himself and his political campaigns.

    • Trump arranged a military parade where he delivered a campaign-style speech in front of assembled members of the military. Trump’s stunt cost taxpayers an estimated $5.4 million. Today, he’s planning another military parade – on his birthday – that is expected to cost as much as $45 million.

    • Trump delivered an overtly political address while on a trip to a warzone, signing campaign merchandise and attacking Democrats, drawing criticism for playing politics with the military.

    • The Trump campaign disregarded rules against political activity at Arlington National Cemetery by filming content that was later used on the campaign’s TikTok account – and even engaged in a physical altercation with a cemetery official who tried to prevent them from taking photographs in a restricted area.

    • Trump has delivered several rambling, incoherent speeches nearly indistinguishable from campaign rallies at military academy commencement ceremonies – most recently rambling about drag shows, trophy wives, and his predecessor in front of West Point cadets. He performed the same stunt at Fort Bragg, using the military as the backdrop for a political rally.

  • Trump exploits the military because he doesn’t respect them. 

“Trump is now trying to use the might of the U.S. military to further suppress people’s free speech rights, dramatically expanding his crackdown on people’s rights. And while Trump cited ‘violence and disorder’ as the reason he deployed National Guard troops, local law enforcement had not indicated that they were in need of federal assistance to restore order… Ultimately, this strategy is less about ‘law and order’ and more about sending a message to Americans across the country: Speak out against Trump and there will be consequences.”

But make no mistake: Trump’s abuse of power will not stop in Los Angeles. Trump is determined to test the limits of his power and see exactly how far he can go in restraining the political opposition.

Published: June 2025