The President’s Inbox Civil-Military Relations Under Trump, With Kori Schake
15 snips
Oct 14, 2025 
Kori Schake, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of *The State and the Soldier*, delves into civil-military relations during the Trump administration. She explains the historical aversion to military coups in the U.S. and discusses the importance of civilian control, referencing George Washington's foundational role. Schake warns against politicization risks and highlights how public perception of the military can be compromised by partisan displays. Additionally, she examines the implications of domestic troop deployment and the impact of retired officers' political commentary on public trust.
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Grant's Constitutional Dilemma
- Ulysses S. Grant faced a constitutional crisis balancing presidential and congressional authority over the military after Lincoln's assassination.
- Grant chose Congress's supremacy in peacetime, shaping modern civil-military norms.
MacArthur's Public Defiance
- Douglas MacArthur repeatedly ignored civilian limits, publicly opposing Truman's Korea strategy and lobbying Congress.
- Truman relieved MacArthur with Joint Chiefs' support, reaffirming civilian supremacy in wartime.
Two Tests Of Healthy Civil-Military Relations
- Two core tests show healthy civil-military relations: presidential firing authority and military execution of disagreed policies.
- The U.S. military currently passes the execution test despite civilian misbehavior, per Schake.
