President Joe Biden broke his promise to “never politicize” the United States military after delivering a highly partisan prime time speech Thursday night, attacking Republicans with two Marines sentries clearly flanking him in the background.
Biden had promised during his first visit to the Pentagon as president, “I will never dishonor you. I will never disrespect you. I will never politicize the work you do.”
Yet, as the president delivered his speech attacking the opposition political party, the sight of two Marine sentries positioned in the backdrop behind him drew criticism from Republican officials, conservative pundits, Marine veterans, but also from mainstream media journalists.
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Biden delivered an address billed as the “battle for the soul of the nation.” (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty)
Their views were quickly aired on social media.
Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine veteran, tweeted, “Why were U.S. Marines used as a POLITICAL backdrop, by their Commander-in-Chief, during a disunity speech? Everyone should be concerned.”
Why were U. S. Marines used as a POLITICAL backdrop, by their Commander-in-Chief, during a disunity speech? Everyone should be concerned. #potus #America pic.twitter.com/ao6sQMWVpp
— Winsome Earle-Sears (@winwithwinsome) September 2, 2022
Max Miller, a Marine reservist and U.S. House candidate for Ohio, tweeted: “Using the United States Marine Corps as props in a political speech of this nature is truly abhorrent.”
Using the United States Marine Corps as props in a political speech of this nature is truly abhorrent.
Almost a year to the day of leaving 13 of my fellow Marines to die in Afghanistan. Disgraceful.
— Max Miller (@MaxMillerOH) September 2, 2022
Rep. Darrell Issa (CA) tweeted: “The only thing worse than Biden’s speech trashing his fellow citizens is wrapping himself in our flag and Marines to do it.”
The only thing worse than Biden’s speech trashing his fellow citizens is wrapping himself in our flag and Marines to do it.
— Rep. Darrell Issa (@repdarrellissa) September 2, 2022
Breitbart News’ Joel Pollak recalled how Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley apologized for appearing with then-President Donald Trump, in a walk across Lafayette Square the day after the White House was almost overrun, arguing it had involved the military in politics.
“My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics,” Milley had said.
Pollak tweeted: “Hey, where’s Joint Chiefs @thejointstaff Chairman General Mark Milley complaining about the politicization of the military? Can we expect to see a parade of military officials denouncing Biden for abusing the Marines for a political speech? Or is that just when Trump stops riots?”
Hey, where’s Joint Chiefs @thejointstaff Chairman General Mark Milley complaining about the politicization of the military? Can we expect to see a parade of military officials denouncing Biden for abusing the Marines for a political speech? Or is that just when Trump stops riots?
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) September 2, 2022
Conservative commentator Tim Young tweeted: “I thought the military wasn’t supposed to be political… positioning marines behind Biden when he said his political opponents were a threat to the nation was… tin pot, third world dictator shit.”
I thought the military wasn’t supposed to be political… positioning marines behind Biden when he said his political opponents were a threat to the nation was… tin pot, third world dictator shit.
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) September 2, 2022
But even CNN journalists raised their eyebrows at Biden’s use of Marines in the background.
CNN’s Brianna Keilar, a military spouse, tweeted, “Whatever you think of this speech the military is supposed to be apolitical. Positioning Marines in uniform behind President Biden for a political speech flies in the face of that.”
Whatever you think of this speech the military is supposed to be apolitical. Positioning Marines in uniform behind President Biden for a political speech flies in the face of that. It’s wrong when Democrats do it. It’s wrong when Republicans do it.
— Brianna Keilar (@brikeilarcnn) September 2, 2022
CNN’s Jeff Zeleny called it “a break with White House traditions.”
There’s nothing unusual or wrong with a President delivering a political speech — it’s inherent in the job description — but doing it against a backdrop of two Marines standing at attention and the Marine Band is a break with White House traditions. pic.twitter.com/s3TSYHtkcA
— Jeff Zeleny (@jeffzeleny) September 2, 2022
Breitbart News has reached out to the Marine Corps and the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for comment on Marines being present during Biden’s partisan speech.
Biden has also repeatedly threatened military force against Americans who support owning AR-15s, as Breitbart News’ AWR Hawkins has recently reported.
Follow Breitbart News’s Kristina Wong on Twitter, Truth Social, or on Facebook.
