Bulwark Takes Does Trump Even Know What Soldiers Fight For? | Command Post
Feb 26, 2026
Mark Hertling, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and military analyst, reflects on the State of the Union’s heavy military pageantry and shaky claims. He and Ben Parker critique grandstanding over clear strategy. They question assertions about Iran and war, probe rushed medal approvals, and discuss what soldiers actually fight for: fellow service members, values, and the Constitution.
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State Of The Union Is Meant To Inform Not Entertain
- The State of the Union is a constitutional duty to inform Congress and the public about the nation's status and recommend measures.
- Mark Hertling argues Trump used the speech for ceremony and applause lines rather than laying out strategy or vision.
Claiming Victory Without A Strategy Creates Dangerous Ambiguity
- Trump claimed the U.S. "obliterated" Iran's nuclear program but offered no clear policy or objective for future Iran action.
- Hertling and Parker note the contradiction with recent meetings of the Gang of Eight and public confusion about next steps.
Applause Lines Claimed Wars Ended But Facts Disagree
- Trump repeatedly claimed he'd ended multiple wars, but Hertling disputes those claims with concrete counterexamples like ongoing U.S. peacekeeping in Kosovo and persistent Gaza conflict.
- The hosts highlight factual mismatches between applause lines and reality.