Overview
- Aboard the USS George Washington in Tokyo Bay, Trump delivered a rally-style address that mixed political broadsides with bellicose rhetoric to an audience of active-duty personnel.
- The Japan appearance extends a pattern that included a June stop at Fort Bragg, a late-September gathering of generals and admirals at Quantico, and remarks during the Navy’s 250th observance.
- MSNBC and Politico reported that Trump urged derision of the press, attacked Democrats including Joe Biden and governors, and reprised his claim that the 2020 election was rigged.
- Politico described the trend as a “new normal” in civil-military affairs and reported some service members are privately very nervous.
- Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey said the Tokyo speech sounded unhinged and argued a military officer giving it would be removed and court-martialed for politicization.