U.S. Military, Now at War With Americans, to Use Cities as ‘Training Grounds’
Trump tries convincing military leaders to view his enemies as their enemies
In a very expensive, three-hour September 30 meeting that involved flying hundreds of the nation’s generals and admirals stationed around the world to Virginia, President Trump claimed the country’s urban areas are overrun with violence and need to be brought under control.
Trump painted Americans in cities led by “the radical left Democrats,” as well as immigrants, as the “enemy within,” while telling our military’s top leaders that they are at “war” with their fellow Americans. He may or may not have also threatened them with demotion for rejecting his remarks.
This may raise questions about military allegiance and responsibility, so we looked up the oath of enlistment, which differs slightly among military branches. But here is the oath for commissioned officers, which these generals and admirals are. It states:
I ___, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. (Title 5 U.S. Code 3331, an individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services)
Commissioned officers do not explicitly swear “to support the President, the Country, the flag or a particular service, but rather the Constitution which symbolizes all of these things.” However, it is implied that the Commander in Chief ought to be obeyed, as far as he or she upholds the Constitution in military matters.
Needless to say, the military may be fully tested in the coming weeks and months as Trump sends service members to more and more cities, presumably to protect ICE agents apprehending (both legal and undocumented) immigrants from protesters.