A senior White House official, Anthony Salisbury, inadvertently revealed plans to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland via Signal messages. The Minnesota Star Tribune obtained images of the messages, which were sent to other high-ranking officials, including a senior adviser to the US defense secretary, discussing the potential deployment due to potential backlash of using the army. While the defense secretary initially preferred the National Guard, Trump’s administration ultimately deployed 200 members of the National Guard, contradicting initial reports. This incident adds to a pattern of intelligence leaks within the Trump administration, highlighting security concerns.
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A White House official inadvertently revealed plans to deploy the 82nd Airborne Division to Portland while using Signal in a public space. The official, a top deputy to Stephen Miller, discussed the deployment with other officials, including an advisor who stated that the deployment would likely generate significant headlines. Ultimately, the administration sent National Guard soldiers to Portland instead. This incident follows a previous breach of secure communication earlier in the year, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the administration’s communication practices.
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President Trump’s visit to Fort Bragg for the Army’s 250th birthday celebration deviated sharply from a typical presidential appearance, marked by partisan attacks and enthusiastically partisan responses from soldiers. Internal communications reveal the 82nd Airborne Division curated the audience, selecting soldiers based on perceived political alignment and physical attributes, raising concerns about violations of Pentagon policies on political activity in uniform. The presence of a pro-Trump merchandise vendor on base further blurred the lines between military neutrality and partisan politics, prompting limited official responses and widespread criticism from experts and former military leaders. This incident highlights a concerning erosion of the military’s traditionally nonpartisan stance, exemplified by the lack of disciplinary action against those violating established regulations.
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John Q. Hosedrinker