Trump’s merchandise was sold in Fort Bragg for the president’s speech now under review

The Army is reviewing how Donald Trump’s pro-president merchandise ended up being in one of its bases this week in an event sponsored by the service orchestrated by the White House and the president’s supporters.

Earlier this week, Trump spoke at Fort Bragg in North Carolina to celebrate the 250 Army Birthday. In the event, a truck was seen selling Trump merchandise, including “Make America Great Again” hats and another “America First” booty. It is likely that practice disagree with the policy of the Long Data Defense Department, which prohibits troops from using political outfits such as hats or flags or expressing their political opinion while they are in uniform.

Politics intends to preserve the tradition of the United States Apolitical Military Forces, serving at the request of a democratically elected president, regardless of the party.

When asked about photos of troops in uniform buying Trump Merches in a military base, a base spokesman said the matter was under review.

“The army is still committed to its central values ​​and its apolitical service to the nation,” said Colonel Mary Ricks, spokesman for the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg.

“The Army does not support the political merchandise or the opinions it represents,” Ricks added. “The presence of the supplier is in review to determine how it was allowed and to avoid similar occurrences in the future.”

The public event in Fort Bragg, which houses the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army and serves as the headquarters of the Special Operations Command of the US Army. UU., Orchestrated as a Trump campaign demonstration.

Trump spoke for almost an hour, repeating false statements of a “manipulated and stolen choice” and attacking his political rivals. He referred to Los Angeles as a “gun” in the control of “transnational gangs and criminals”, a reference to the ongoing protests in the city. He said that immigration protesters were part of a “foreign invasion”, an evaluation in disagreement with his main military advisor, General Dan Caine, who publicly contradicted that declaration in testimony.

The sources say that the organizers of the event placed the soldiers who offered as volunteers to attend directly behind the president while transmitting their political complaints. Some of the troops nodded and cheered for Trump’s suggestion to put people in jail for burning the US flag and some made fun of when he mentioned the “false press.”

Several of the soldiers booed for Trump’s references to the governor of California Gavin Newsom and the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass.

“In Los Angeles, the governor of California, the mayor of Los Angeles, are incompetent and paid fallen, agitators and insurrectionists,” he said about the protests in Los Angeles. “They are committed in this intentional attempt to cancel federal law and help the occupation of the city by criminal invaders.”

In retrospect, an army official said, uniformed officers in the field should probably have retreated more about the political nature of the event. Two weeks before, the president had turned a graduation ceremony in West Point into a politically loaded speech in which he also advised cadets to avoid “trophies.”

“But what can you do? For you, he is the president. For us, he is the commander in chief,” said the official, a reference to the democratically designated role of the president by ordering the nation’s struggle forces.

The sources say that the civilians of the Federal Commission América 250, many of them with close links with the White House, received “complete creative control” of the Fort Bragg event. America 250 and the White House did not respond immediately to a request for comments.

According to two people familiar with the planning effort, the organizers told Army officials at the base before the demonstration who wanted a certain number of soldiers anxious to support the president. These troops would have to undergo a criminal record verification for security reasons. It is also required, according to the sources, the troops would have to be seen in shape, not fat, according to the approach of the new administration in physical conditioning standards, warrior ethos and lethality.

The troops would have to accept to behave professionally and respectfully, sources said. Not seos, for example, or reacting negatively during Trump’s speech.

Army officials of the base worked diligently with America 250 organizers to find troops that adjusted to the bill.

“We are soldiers,” said a person. “We do what they tell us.”

In the end it turned out that, finding troops at the base willing to be respectful of Trump was not difficult, the sources said. Trump tends to be popular in Fort Bragg among many of the files there. And because the event was voluntary, the show attracted its most burning followers.

In the end, the images of the troops booed and encourage a political discourse while Maga Merch was offered was unfortunate, said the army official.

“We wish it would not have happened,” said the official. “The army would like to focus on the history and celebration of its 250 anniversary and its commitment to defend the nation.”

Luis Martínez de ABC News contributed to this report.