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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI don't know who wrote this.
A friend sent this to me, she doesn't know the author either. If we figure out who wrote it, I'll come back and edit this comment. Here is is.
The generals sat in perfect silence, faces locked in the kind of grim stillness that comes from years of watching idiots talk and choosing not to react. Trump, of course, couldnt handle it. Ive never walked into a room so silent before, he confessed, his voice trembling somewhere between wounded pride and panic. Then came the kicker: If you want to applaud, you applaud.
This wasnt leadership. This was a washed-up Vegas act begging the crowd to clap. The Commander-in-Chief turned into the Clapper-in-Chief, reduced to prodding the nations top brass like a sad carnival barker who forgot his punchline.
A campaign rally in uniform.
Instead of strategy, Trump delivered his usual medley of grievances: Barack Obama ruined everything, Joe Biden ruined it twice as hard, and only Donald J. Trump, self-proclaimed two-term, maybe three-term president could save America. It was less a military briefing than an episode of The Apprentice: Pentagon Edition.
The generals, trained to withstand battlefield chaos, sat stone-faced through the barrage of nonsense. They have endured artillery fire with more enthusiasm.
Enter Pete Hegseth, Americas Pastor-in-Arms. Trumps Secretary of War took the podium with the intensity of a man who thinks Tom Clancy novels are actual military doctrine. He promised fire and brimstone, called for purges of fat generals, and announced he wants the next war to look exactly like the Gulf War, because apparently its still 1991 and CNN is running that same grainy footage of tanks in the desert.
But Hegseth wasnt done. He led them in prayer. Yes, prayer. The nations top generals, summoned by presidential ego, now folded into a forced altar call like extras at a megachurch revival. The separation of church and state? Obliterated. Constitution? Shredded. Jesus, apparently, is now Commander-in-Chief. Trump can play Vice.
Weakness on parade
Trump likes to brag about firing generals who arent warriors. But on Tuesday, the real firing squad was silence. Not one clap. Not one cheer. Just the steady hum of contempt vibrating off the brass like feedback from a dead microphone.
These men and women have seen actual combat. Theyve buried soldiers. Theyve lived with the weight of real command. And now theyre expected to cheer for a man who brags about moving a submarine or two like its a toy in a bathtub, or who lectures about two N-words as though nuclear strategy were a stand-up routine.
No wonder they didnt clap.
The pin-drop presidency
What happened at Quantico wasnt just awkward. It was diagnostic. Trumps presidency is a hollow shell propped up by applause, and when the applause disappears, so does he.
And Hegseth? Hes the zealot-in-chief, delivering sermons about war and Christ in equal measure, a man confusing the Book of Revelation with the Pentagons operations manual. Together, they make quite the duo: one desperate for claps, the other desperate for amens.
The generals gave them neither.
Instead, they gave silence, the most cutting judgment of all."

lame54
(38,623 posts)Marthe48
(22,087 posts)we might hear that the criminals were carried out feet first.
CivicGrief
(249 posts)But would lose their jobs and rank. I guess they thought he was joking.
patphil
(8,355 posts)You don't get to be line officers by being easily intimidated.
Besides, I'm sure they've been talking between themselves for months, and may already be developing plans about how to
deal with Trump and Hegseth if/when the going gets rough.
These guys have stared down foreign enemies for decades. Now they've got a homegrown enemy who thinks they'll fold like a house of cards in the face of threats.
I can hear Dirty Harry's words echoing throughout that room, albeit unsaid, "go ahead, make my day".
CivicGrief
(249 posts)brass in the military dont think like Hegseth and Trump. Thats just me, and I hope Im wrong.
OldBaldy1701E
(9,328 posts)But, if I saw the entire command staff get up and walk out en masse, I would have been fucking cheering!
I would be popping the popcorn for the next day as they tried to recover from it. They just don't have enough cronies to replace the entire General Staff. They might think they do, but they don't. And, they cannot just put whomever in there. The entire military would collapse in a matter of weeks.
Then, what would they have done (that was not illegal or created a massive lawsuit from many states in a 'final strike' class action)?
Hekate
(99,829 posts)They know.
some_of_us_are_sane
(2,287 posts)The most searing and accurate report I've ever read about Trump's effect on the military (officers in particular) who have been in actual war zones.
A BIG QUIET FUCK YOU to that worm of a man.
He's a doddering, pathetic national embarrasment.
IcyPeas
(24,408 posts)SMH
WhiskeyGrinder
(25,818 posts)It was clear Trump was uncomfortable, of course.
FakeNoose
(39,001 posts)I'm very glad they didn't clap because we all would have been so disappointed.
Thank you Generals, Admirals, Officers and Gentlemen!
tanyev
(48,088 posts)Thank goodness it was televised, or he would be talking the rest of his life about how they all stood and cheered and applauded him with tears in their eyes.
Hell, he might do that anyway after his tangled brain cells finish rewriting his reality.
FakeNoose
(39,001 posts)That's how pathetic he is.
dwayneb
(1,060 posts)But he is so stupid and self obsessed that he didn't bother to inquire.
Regardless, he will do his level best to decimate the ranks of his military leadership, to weaken then and to install his shills.
God forbid we get into some kind of real shooting war with this idiot as commander in chief. We are sitting ducks.
pat_k
(12,058 posts)Civilian control over the military doesn't mean they serve a political agenda. They serve the elected leadership and the CONSTITUTION, but the 47 regime will never get the notion that the military' DOES NOT AND MUST NEVER SERVE a political party or partisan agenda.
They will never be his cheerleaders.
They will never cheer any elected's naked partisanship.
The notion of political neutrality and political non-interference with the military, the treasury, DOJ, FBI, or any other agency, like the labor relations board, is an idea the 47 regime utterly rejects and purposefully violates. To 47, it is all "MINE! MINE! MINE! MY Military! MY Treasury! MY DOJ! It's all MINE!!!
Conjuay
(2,748 posts)WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THESE MORONS?
'The next war,'
why doesn't he just give us a date and time?
WHAT ever happened to 'if in some unfortunate situation, we find ourselves at war...'?
evolves
(5,649 posts)drafting the plans for it.
Fil1957
(271 posts)revolution, or the consolidation of a fascist state, support of the military is required. These guys took an oath to the Constitution, and it looks like they intend to honor it. Bad news for Trump, good news for the american people.
popsdenver
(648 posts)they had cameras focused on each and every officer there........reading the body language for each person in the audience........
Trying to figure out which individuals were for or against him..........
Why else would they assemble the entire group, at an immense risk??????....Trying to see how deep his MAGA propaganda has infiltrated the top end of the military, to incorporate that into their future decisions......
All their long term future intentions/actions will depend on a military coup, and they need to judge the odds of an actual military revolting...........
BidenRocks
(2,381 posts)is that 'stare'.
I can look right through you with zero emotion.
That's what chump saw looking back at him.
No emotion, just taking mental notes!
Sparkly
(24,765 posts)I had a teacher who did the 'stare.' "How do YOU think you performed?" ... and the stare. It was awful!!!
When we look for some emotional response -- especially one that signals approval -- that stare is devastating, at least when it comes from a superior. And everyone in that room was superior to the two charlatans onstage today.
sarge43
(29,173 posts)It's intimating.
ReRe
(12,087 posts)
NJCher
(41,732 posts)Let's face it, if they cared about the concerns and positions of other people, they wouldn't be doing what they're doing.
Body language? LOL.
evolves
(5,649 posts)is planning it, but the MAGAts certainly are....
BComplex
(9,626 posts)How embarrassing for our country.
LilElf70
(1,142 posts)The pin-drop presidency ...
This guy is out of control.
Wild blueberry
(7,950 posts)Got it in one.
(apologies to Las Vegas)
rubbersole
(10,733 posts)You know he thought about it.
ReRe
(12,087 posts)To me, their reaction said it all, "Fuck off, jerk."
BaronChocula
(3,557 posts)about him firing them if they walked out? It was one of several times he got some laughs which deeply disappointed me.
popsdenver
(648 posts)that Putin is firing a bunch commanders at the top of Russia's military.....and probably told Trump in Alaska........watch me !!!!!!!!!!!
Lonestarblue
(12,984 posts)Heres the link.
https://www.instagram.com/gigishapirokulick/
Whoever Gigi Shapiro Kulick is, the description is perfect.
ancianita
(42,300 posts)
sl8
(16,912 posts)The Clapper-in-Chief and His Secretary of Sunday School : @mjjochum
[...]
https://www.facebook.com/mjjochum/posts/the-clapper-in-chief-and-his-secretary-of-sunday-schooldonald-trump-walked-into-/10239171709769217/
WmChris
(422 posts)They may have just sown the seeds to grow into a military coup.
BComplex
(9,626 posts)has decided for us.
popsdenver
(648 posts)At this point, I figure a Military Revolt against them is the only alternative left......It ALL hinges on if he can succeed with a Military Coup, or if he faces a Military Revolt against the whole lot of them........
You can be sure, that in their last meeting, Putin told him to close ALL military bases in NATO countries immediately, and bring the soldiers back to the U.S. so The Republicans could use them to establish Martial Law, all across the U.S. in every city and state.....and to aid in the roundup and deportation of every citizen who isn't white to some other third world country........Maybe that's the War his Secretary of War was talking about wanting.....Operation "Clean" Sweep.........
Uncle Joe
(63,405 posts)Thanks for the thread AverageOldGuy
malaise
(290,151 posts)Rec
MLWR
(605 posts)what was going on their heads to be lectured by a five-time draft dodger, who called members of the military "suckers and losers," who said of John McCain, "I prefer soldiers who weren't caught," who said of fallen heroes, "they knew what they signed up for."
3Hotdogs
(14,691 posts)NJCher
(41,732 posts)It would be interesting to know the answer to your question. There might be camera shots of the audience on that link during the "prayer session."
angrychair
(11,277 posts)He is has ordered them into our cities or more specifically, our "inner cities" to "practice". WTF!?!
FVKC HIM AND HIS BROWN SHIRTS. HIS MILITARY MURDERBOTS.
He has ordered the military to kill US citizens and everyone just acts as if he ordered a ham sandwich.
all the men who were incarcerated in the attempted J6th to be utilized in the leadership of his ICE and DOJ attack on U.S. Citizens.......Along with all their Militia friends and followers...........
markbark
(1,619 posts)Cha
(315,016 posts)What an Epic description for those who didn't see it and for those who did.
Mahalo
Mustellus
(396 posts)Capt, USAF.
Mustellus
(396 posts)NJCher
(41,732 posts)not the same.
Nonetheless, a good assessment.
Americanme
(292 posts)Lectured to by a lesser military mind? I tend to think there were some angry officers at the end of that meeting.
babylonsister
(172,405 posts)mucifer
(25,361 posts)Martin68
(26,545 posts)Headline: "Trump, Hegseth lecture military leaders in rare, politically charged summit"
Excerpts:
"The unusual, hastily organized event became a forum for the president and his defense secretary to tout their partisan agenda."
"Hundreds of the U.S. militarys top leaders listened in silence to highly partisan addresses from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, with each harshly criticizing their predecessors and hyping their political objectives during an extraordinary exhibition of both mens grievances."
"A former Pentagon official and expert on civil-military affairs, Kori Schake, took a dimmer view. 'It was disgraceful to subject military leaders to so flagrantly partisan political theater and dangerous for the commander in chief to encourage them to violence against fellow Americans,' said Schake, a senior fellow with the American Enterprise Institute."
NJCher
(41,732 posts)Thanks for providing it.
Martin68
(26,545 posts)Every service member has experience with an incompetent superior.
Totally Tunsie
(11,346 posts)In the past, it's been curable with antibiotics (shot up his ass?); this time, not so much so.
Vinca
(52,844 posts)Hopefully he won't have long to stew.
FakeNoose
(39,001 posts)Chump should be happy there's a protocol that prevents both booing and clapping.
Ray Bruns
(5,671 posts)Exactly! Another reality tv actor who doesnt realize his career was over decades ago.
Gimpyknee
(903 posts)gfarber
(125 posts)At Quantico, Trump took the stage,
Expecting some cheers to engage.
But the generals stared,
Stone-faced and unimpaired,
While silence wrote him off the page.
He swaggered in loud, full of flair,
But was met with a cold, deadly stare.
Applaud if you must,
He begged through the dust,
As brass judged a clown unaware.
He thought it was time for a cheer,
But not even one volunteer.
Clap if you want!
Was his meek little taunt
Like a lounge act abandoned mid-beer.
In a room where wars ghosts reside,
He pleaded, but none would abide.
No claps, not a breath
Just the stillness of death,
While his ego collapsed from inside.
His preacher rose up to declare,
That Jesus would lead every prayer.
But brass didnt flinch,
Not giving an inch,
As war met revival mid-air.