Report: Trump Draft Order Would Create Board to Evaluate, Dismiss Generals

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The Facts

  • A draft executive order reviewed by The Wall Street Journal would allow Pres.-elect Donald Trump to create a "warrior board," which would consist of retired senior military personnel and would allow them to fire three- and four-star officers who don't pass the board's review process.

  • The draft order describes the removable generals and admirals as "lacking in requisite leadership qualities." But the order doesn't provide details of what officers must do to meet the board's requirements.


The Spin

Left narrative

Regardless of how much one thinks the military should value diversity, this order and the board it would create sound like Trump plans to shift the military's loyalties from the Constitution to his administration. Politics are supposed to remain outside of the ranks, and servicemembers won't be able to effectively do their jobs if they're constantly worrying about displeasing one politician that's judging them on an unknown scale.

Right narrative

Trump promised to rid the military of woke generals and this order will send him down that path. It's about time someone acted to upend the military review process. It was the Biden administration that politicized the military when it made diversity and inclusion more important than effectiveness and merit among the ranks. Now it's up to the Trump administration to cleanse the military and make sure it's focused on the right tasks at hand.


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Political split

LEFT

RIGHT