During a rally in Coachella, California, Donald Trump reiterated his stance against what he calls a “woke military,” playing a video that contrasts his vision of the military with that of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The video, which Trump has pinned to his X (formerly Twitter) account, intersperses clips from the iconic war film “Full Metal Jacket” with footage of servicemembers in drag and Rachel Levine, a transgender official in the Biden administration. Trump uses this visual comparison to criticize Harris and the Biden administration’s approach to diversity and inclusion in the military.
The video highlights Trump’s belief that under Harris, the military would be weakened by progressive policies that promote diversity, specifically targeting LGBTQ+ inclusion. His rally performance underscored his opposition to such initiatives, emphasizing his vision of a more traditional and hyper-masculine military culture.
By repeatedly playing the “Full Metal Jacket” clip, which features the harsh and abusive Gunnery Sergeant Hartman toughening up recruits, Trump appears to be advocating for a return to a more aggressive, “old-school” military demeanor.
Donald Trump
Trump’s criticism of LGBTQ+ servicemembers is evident in his focus on scenes of military personnel dressed in drag, which he uses as a stark contrast to the militaristic discipline portrayed in “Full Metal Jacket.” His message suggests that openly gay or transgender individuals have no place in his envisioned military.
This sentiment echoes past policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which was repealed in 2010 to allow LGBTQ+ people to serve openly in the U.S. military. Since then, diversity initiatives have expanded, particularly under President Biden.
Although Trump’s use of “Full Metal Jacket” seems to symbolize his desire for a tougher, more traditional military, it’s worth noting that the movie itself ends with a tragic twist when one of the cadets kills the drill sergeant.
This complicates Trump’s analogy, as the outcome of the film doesn’t fully support the idea of a healthy, cohesive military unit under such leadership. Nonetheless, Trump continues to use the film’s imagery to push his anti-“woke” agenda.
It remains uncertain what specific changes Trump would make to the military if he were re-elected, but his rhetoric suggests a rollback of recent diversity and inclusion efforts. His focus on returning to a more authoritarian, “macho” military suggests a stark departure from the current administration’s policies, which aim to create a more inclusive environment for servicemembers of all backgrounds.
