The United States faces a “war” in its big cities and “internal enemies” to fight, said Donald Trump in some 800 high officers of the American army on Tuesday. The meeting, highly unusual, did not give rise to any formal directive.
What to know
The US military highs were summoned to a meeting on Tuesday.
Donald Trump delivered a long speech, referring to a “war” in progress in major American cities.
The administration has announced neither a new policy nor mass dismissal, as the observers expected first.
“When Trump speaks of” interior enemies “, it is a very loaded language, with very precise meanings,” explains Carrie A. Lee, principal researcher for the German Marshall Fund reflection group in Washington. “In conservative and right circles, most often,” interior enemies “means the liberals, the opposition,” said the specialist in military and democratic affairs.
If the president has already deployed troops on American soil in the last months, invoking the protection of federal buildings and security, the formulation used on Tuesday A, according to Mme Lee, a potentially more serious meaning, as deploying the army against political opponents. Cities compared to war theaters by Trump, whether Chicago, Portland or Los Angeles, are also democratic bastions.
The order would, of course, be questionable on a legal level, the use of soldiers on American soil being marked – even if the current administration has tested the limits since its arrival. But the trivialization of the sending of troops, as in Portland, where 200 soldiers must be deployed to “protect the immigration police” and its facilities, worries Mme Lee.
“We know that Donald Trump says aloud what he thinks and what he would like to do, but if he really intends to do it, well, that is another question,” reacts Ronald R. Krebs, professor of political science at the University of Minnesota, specialist in relations between civil and the military.
Cream of subjects covered
Trump discoured for more than an hour in front of the soldiers’ audience in Quantico, Virginia. His allusions to the “war” in American cities – and his suggestion to use them as training places for soldiers – were only a subject launched among the congratulations to the troops, his self -tone, his love of the term “customs law”, his disappointment towards the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, or his insults against his predecessor.
He also brought the idea of Canada as 51e State, speaking of his anti -missile shield project. “Canada called me a few weeks ago to tell me that it wanted to participate,” he said. I said, “Why don’t you join our country? You become 51e Condition and you get it for free. ” »»
Photo Jim Watson, agency France-Presse
Some 800 high officers of the American army attended Donald Trump’s speech on Tuesday.
Before him, the secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, repeated themes already discussed since his arrival in post: the end of the policy of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the return of more severe physical standards, the greatness to be given to the army.
“The era of politically correct, excessive sensitivity and leadership” let’s hit anyone “ends now,” he said. Those who disagree with the current vision of the army should “do the honorable thing and resign,” he added.
“I think that the secretary really has a state of mind as an infantry soldier, without being aware of all the activities and skills necessary to produce the current combat power,” said Barry R. Posen, professor of political science specializing in military affairs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Due to the different needs of the army, the physical form is not always the most important criterion, he says. Even if the question of strength and anti-dei policies are dear themes at the Trumpian base.
Questioning
The summons of high officers raised questions, especially on security, while generals and admirals had to leave their posts to participate in the meeting. “It can be a little risky, but there are also assistants who replace them when they absent, as it happens frequently,” said the retired colonel Mark Cancian, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies reflection group.
The biggest question is probably: why was it important to keep this meeting in person? Everyone scratches their heads a little.
Retirement colonel Mark Cancian, from the Center for Strategic and International Studies reflection group
Trump’s presentation perhaps looked like a partisan rally because the goal was first to make a staging for its base outside the room, advances Mr. Krebs. “This is the kind of spectacle that people like Hegseth and Trump associate with significant leadership: bringing together all his subordinates in the same room; Speaking with condescension to a group of very accomplished professionals, by telling them essentially that their way of directing the army is deeply inadequate, ”he explains.
Before Trump, the presidents also avoided the partisan speeches before the army, the latter being apolitical.
But people “expect Trump to be inappropriate,” recalls Mr. Cancian. The mention by Hegseth of a more lethal use of the force arrested him more. “We must see if he publishes new guidelines,” he said. I don’t expect that, and the military would be embarrassed, but you have to see if it’s just a sentence, just an opinion in a speech, or not. »»
