H.R. McMaster on Trump's 'Woke' Military Comments and Using US Cities as Training Grounds

Reaction to Using US Cities as Military Training Grounds

• ⚠️ H.R. McMaster expresses concern over President Trump's suggestion to use US cities like Chicago and Portland as military training grounds.
• 🎯 He emphasizes that the military's role in supporting law enforcement should not involve taking actions against US citizens, who are entitled to due process.
• 🤝 While acknowledging a role for the military in supporting law enforcement, McMaster highlights the importance of coordination and support, citing the DC National Guard's professional job in Washington.
• ⚖️ McMaster's primary concern is that Trump's framing compromises the covenant between the military and citizens and risks dragging the military into partisan discourse.

'Enemy From Within' and Military Ethics

• 🗣️ McMaster is concerned about Trump's broad use of the term 'enemy from within,' which could be misapplied to political opponents.
• 🚫 He stresses the importance of not dragging the military into vitriolic partisan discourse, drawing parallels to issues on university campuses.
• 🇺🇸 The US military has a historical commitment to maintaining a clear line between partisan politics and its institutions.

Physical Standards and Gender Neutrality in Combat Roles

• ✅ McMaster agrees with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that physical standards for combat jobs must be high and gender-neutral.
• 💡 He clarifies that if women cannot meet these standards for roles like close combat or armor, it is an outcome of the standards themselves, not a disqualification based on gender.
• 🎖️ McMaster emphasizes recognizing women as warriors who demonstrate courage and commitment, regardless of their ability to meet specific physical demands.

Rules of Engagement and Lethality

• ⚡ McMaster approves of the idea of untying the hands of warfighters to maximize lethality against enemies.
• ⚖️ However, he wishes the Defense Secretary had included a caveat about adhering to the laws of land warfare and the principle of discrimination between combatants and non-combatants, as taught by St. Thomas Aquinas.