President Joe Biden violated military regulations in his Sept. 1 address at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, according to U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks).
Rogers, lead Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, joined two of his GOP colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin lamenting Biden’s incorporation of Marines in the background of his speech.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Defense Appropriations Subcommittee lead Republican Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) joined Rogers in the letter.
Asserting that Biden compromised the “apolitical nature” of the military, the House Republicans accused the commander-in-chief of using the Marines as “political props.”
“We are gravely concerned that throughout the entirety of this partisan, politically charged, and divisive address to the nation, two United States Marines were visibly present flanking the President in the background,” write the lawmakers. “The President’s use of active duty Marines as political props undermines the apolitical nature of our servicemembers and erodes trust in our military. American men and women in uniform swear a solemn oath to defend the Constitution. They do not serve a political party.
“On several occasions before committees of Congress and at other public events, both you and General Milley have reinforced this fact. You’ve expressed your concern about politicization of the military and have insisted the military will not become a political instrument under your watch. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened with the participation of the Marines at this political event.”
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The president has received criticism over his speech, which saw the president refer to “MAGA Republicans,” whom he alleged represent a form of extremism, as a “threat to democracy.” Biden also declared that “equality and democracy” are “under assault” by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The Trump faithful, according to the president’s recent remarks, were embracing a form of “semi-fascism.”
Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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