Politics Weekly America Could the US military turn on Trump?
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Mar 13, 2026 Janessa Goldbeck, Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, works on veterans’ issues and civil-military relations. She talks about troops’ confusion over missions and casualties, civilian harm and moral worries, risks of politicized staffing and recruiting, legal limits on unlawful orders, and the role of senior officers and governors in responding to federal deployments.
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Civilian Harm Cuts Into Military Legitimacy
- Civilian harm mitigation is a legal, moral and strategic imperative; perceived indifference to a school bombing damaged legitimacy.
- The president's casual response and conflicting claims about tomahawks eroded confidence in adherence to targeting norms.
Broken Antiwar Promises Heighten Sense Of Betrayal
- Troops recall Trump's 2016 anti-war promises and feel betrayed by renewed hawkishness and talk of regime change.
- Rapid escalation, high munitions costs and unclear end-states feed disbelief about claims this won't be another endless war.
Troops React Strongly To Dismissive Rhetoric About Casualties
- Even politically sympathetic service members felt betrayed by comments diminishing troop deaths and by politicized displays like a 'USA' baseball cap.
- The emotional reaction stems from perceived reversal on promises to avoid new wars.