"the commander in chief skewered Joe Biden ("this guy who had no clue"), even Biden's autopen signature ("I love my signature, everybody loves my signature," he boasted), the "sleazebags" in the "fake media," George Soros, the Democratic Party ("they don't treat you with respect, they're Democrats, they never do"), several "stupid" Democratic mayors-and touted himself as the savior of the military and the nation ("I rebuilt the military. ... I have settled so many wars. ... I know more about deals than anybody")."
"One can imagine what was going through the minds of the hundreds of generals and admirals, who had once saluted Biden and Obama as their commanders, who had come up through the ranks with an apolitical ethos, and who must have been at that moment wondering what kinds of orders they might have to follow-or consider not following-from this crude man who now has the attack plans and nuclear codes at his side."
"Beneath the incoherent swagger and insults, Trump sent a clear message about the sorts of orders he'd soon be handing down, and that couldn't have been reassuring. The military's main task in the near future, he said, would be to defeat "the enemy from within"-the criminals, terrorists, and immigrants whom he claimed are ravaging American cities (even though, in most of those cities, crime rates are falling)."
President Donald Trump delivered a 75-minute, largely improvised address to the nation's highest-ranking military officers, mixing campaign themes, personal boasts, and attacks on opponents. He denounced Joe Biden, mocked Biden's autopen signature, attacked the "fake media," George Soros, the Democratic Party, and several Democratic mayors while declaring himself the military's and nation's savior. The speech's tone unsettled generals and admirals who had served under previous administrations and prized an apolitical ethos, raising fears about future orders tied to political goals. Trump framed the military's near-term mission as defeating "the enemy from within"—criminals, terrorists, and immigrants—claiming cities are being ravaged despite falling crime rates.
Read at Slate Magazine
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