Trump’s Military Nomination Sparks Conservative Criticism
One of President Trump’s nominees for a key military position has faced a wave of conservative backlash, particularly concerning initiatives that some see as “woke.” On September 5, Trump put forward Lt. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, currently the US Army Special Operations Commander (USASOC), to lead the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).
Braga has raised eyebrows among conservatives due to concerns about his alignment with military diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and LGBTQ+ initiatives. Since his nomination, critics have only intensified their scrutiny of Braga. For example, William Thibaud from the Claremont Institute shared a leak he received from an active service member expressing disappointment about Braga’s appointment.
“Braga released the ‘ARSOF’ report, which sought to depict Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators as biased and sexist,” Thibaud stated. He added that the report has since been removed from the USASOC website.
The report, as outlined in the leaked documents, aimed to analyze the position of women in the military and promote inclusivity by “breaking down barriers.” Braga expressed disappointment over some feedback received during the research, noting that “overtly sexist feelings emerged” when service members discussed women’s integration into USASOC.
One comment highlighted the belief that women lack a place in military teams, stating they are “unnecessary wrenches in a fully functional system,” suggesting a trend towards political correctness that undermines operational efficiency.
USASOC has not commented on the report or responded to inquiries about who authorized it. Thibaud remarked on the irony of Braga’s decades of service being overshadowed by his support for DEI, questioning whether he could carry out orders from Trump and Secretary Hegses effectively.
A popular account on TikTok noted Braga’s past engagements, warning against his proximity to the Trump administration due to his support for LGBTQ+ pride initiatives. This account referenced a June 2023 incident where USASOC, under Braga’s leadership, posted a Pride Progress Flag on its social media channels, recognizing LGBTQ+ contributions throughout American military history.
A spokesman for USASOC clarified that such posts reflect memorandum directives from the Pentagon recognizing Pride Month but did not disclose Braga’s level of involvement. The post had garnered significant attention, and Braga’s memo emphasized the importance of fostering a diverse workforce to fulfill USASOC’s mission.
The memo outlined goals for identifying and addressing workplace inequalities and held leaders accountable for maintaining an inclusive environment. This approach aligns closely with the priorities of the previous Biden administration, which instituted an executive order focused on promoting DEI across federal operations.
However, it’s unclear whether the creation of the memo was mandated by one of Braga’s superiors, as USASOC has not responded to further inquiries on that issue. The caller has been in touch with the White House seeking comments on the matter.
