Trump Targets The Military
On Monday, former President Donald Trump took decisive action to address what he sees as the increasing infiltration of “woke” ideologies within the nation’s prestigious military academies. Trump announced the dismissal of the Board of Visitors for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Academies, signaling his commitment to combatting what he views as the left’s growing influence in these institutions.
Trump expressed concern that, over the past few years, leftist ideologies have made their way into the curricula and campus culture at these academies, affecting the morale and values of the students. His decision to dismiss the current boards is part of a larger effort to return the military academies to their core values, focused on discipline, traditional education, and patriotism.
The Board of Visitors at each military academy is made up of a mix of presidential and congressional appointees, tasked with advising on various issues, including morale, academic programs, and physical resources. However, these boards have become embroiled in partisan disputes, with each president appointing members aligned with their political views. Under President Trump, the boards saw political allies placed in positions of influence, but President Biden later removed many of these appointments. Now, Trump is taking action once again, seeking to replace these members to better align with his vision for a strong, non-partisan military education system.
This dismissal is part of a broader initiative to eliminate what Trump calls “woke” culture within the military academies. This includes pushing back against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that he argues detract from the core mission of training future military leaders. Recently, West Point, for example, disbanded several student clubs that were seen as promoting these values.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also expressed interest in removing civilian professors who may be promoting progressive ideologies and replacing them with military personnel, although this initiative may face significant challenges due to ongoing recruitment difficulties. Despite these hurdles, Trump’s commitment to restoring traditional military values and removing ideological influence remains clear.
