CNN: Trump signing MAGA hats for troops may have violated Pentagon rules

[demmiblue]

CNN’s Pentagon correspondent said that President Trump signing red “Make America Great Again” hats for troops in Iraq may have violated Defense Department rules.

"What commander allowed that to really happen?” Barbara Starr asked Wednesday night.

“This is very much against military policy and regulation,” Starr said. “Troops are not supposed to be involved in political activities, the U.S. military is not a political force.”

The president and first lady Melania Trump made unannounced visits to Iraq and Germany on Wednesday to visit the troops. Video footage showed Trump signing the red baseball caps that were a symbol of his presidential campaign.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/422956-cnn-trump-signing-maga-hats-for-troops-may-have-violated-pentagon-rules

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[octoberlib]

1. Active duty troops shouldn't have had those hats

there in the first place(if they brought them).An ethical President wouldn’t have put himself in this situation.

[Shell_Seas]

11. Trump probably has boxes and boxes of those hats on Air Force 1.

He brings them with him everywhere, for occasions just like this.

[octoberlib]

20. This is what I think, too. Why a reporter doesnt

ask this question is beyond me.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. As far as the red hats go, unless those service members knew in advance of Trump's visit, I

find it very unlikely that they would have had those hats with them. I'd bet a dollar to a donut that they arrived on the plane with Trump.

[demmiblue]

8. I tend to agree... the hats look like they are brand new. n/t

[malaise]

3. May have?

Way more than Pentagon rules here
Wht a vile creep!

[TreasonousBastard]

4. True, but who's gonna stop him?

[Shell_Seas]

13. Exactly. After all, he is the King...

[agingdem]

5. that headline

drives me nuts!..may have, could have, false statement, embellished, untruthful...the media is still trying to play both sides so let me help them..trump that piece of garbage violated pentagon rules...trump that piece of garbage lies, lied, is lying....clear and unambiguous .... easy

[Ohiogal]

9. agingdem, I SO agree with you

I’m getting so tired of these wishy washy headlines, too.

Trump “reshaping” policy is another one I’m sick of. It should read “destroying” instead.

[Ms. Toad]

19. You do realize the violations the article is discussing are by the troops,

not Trump, right?

It is the troops - not Trump - who are prohibited from engaging in partisan politics. If they brought MAGA campaign hats to be signed, they are violating the ruless. With his encouragement, to be sure, but the consequences of the violation will fall on them.

[gordianot]

6. Wonder if Hitler signed arm bands?

[Adrahil]

7. Hatch act violations all around? NT

[Bettie]

10. Oh, I'm sure that

rules don't apply to him.

[Shell_Seas]

12. So what?

We let Trump get away with everything else. What's one more thing?

So. Over. It.

[demmiblue]

15. Well, most of us on DU/Dems are not over it.

[Shell_Seas]

17. To clarify, I'm over his behavior. Wish he was out already, but we live in the Twilight Zone;

Where up is down, and black is white, and evil is good. Consistently for the last two years. Rinse and repeat.

[spanone]

14. He doesn't give two shits about the rules / laws. Never has.

[blueinredohio]

18. It's scary seeing all these military personnel waiting in line to see Trump.

[matt819]

21. Every single one of those troops

shown with maga hat or with a trump sign needs to be removed from their units and returned to the US. Same with their unit commanders. They may have been duped, but my guess is that they are true believers who agreed, wittingly or not, to be conscripted into a political event.

[Vinca]

22. As a taxpayer, I'm pissed off that we foot the bill for a campaign rally.

We paid for the planning, the plane and everything associated with the trip. Then he stood on a stage and bashed Democrats. The Trump campaign should pony up some loot to the U.S. Treasury.

[Initech]

23. Is there anything he doesn't ruin?