Fact Check: "According to Military.com, the event was highly choreographed — with more than a wink to political preferences."
What We Know
The claim that an event involving President Donald Trump was "highly choreographed" and had a "wink to political preferences" is supported by reports from Military.com. During a visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, President Trump delivered a speech that included partisan attacks, which deviated from the typical nonpartisan nature expected during military events. Reports indicated that soldiers were specifically selected for their political leanings and appearance to create a favorable image during the event, with directives stating, "no fat soldiers" should be included in the audience (Military.com). This orchestration of the event raised concerns about the military's neutrality and adherence to Pentagon policies regarding political activity in uniform.
Analysis
The evidence from Military.com provides a detailed account of the event's organization, highlighting the deliberate selection of soldiers based on their political affiliations and physical appearance. This suggests a significant departure from traditional military decorum, where the military is expected to remain apolitical. The report indicates that internal communications were used to manage the optics of the event, which aligns with the claim of a "highly choreographed" atmosphere (Military.com).
Furthermore, the presence of a pop-up shop selling pro-Trump merchandise on military property further underscores the intertwining of politics and military events, as noted in the coverage (Military.com). Critics, including military officials, expressed concern about the implications of such actions for the military's reputation as a neutral institution (Military.com).
The reliability of Military.com as a source is generally high, given its focus on military news and issues, although it is essential to consider that any media outlet may have inherent biases. In this case, the report appears to be grounded in factual accounts and direct observations from the event, making it a credible source for this claim.
Conclusion
The claim that the event was "highly choreographed" with political undertones is True. The evidence presented from Military.com clearly illustrates that the event was organized in a manner that favored certain political views, undermining the military's traditional nonpartisan stance. The orchestration of the audience and the nature of the speech delivered by President Trump support this conclusion.
Sources
- Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance
- What is NATO?
- Army Officials Pushed Back on Pop-Up MAGA Shop Ahead of Fort Bragg Trump Speech
- China's choreographed political meet carries message of control
- US’ 500 military personnel in Taiwan an ‘open test’ of Beijing's red lines
- Trump's military parade is costing millions and, potentially, lives
