Trump merchandise sold at Fort Bragg for president's speech now under review

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: ABC News

June 12, 2025, 11:53 AM


The Army is reviewing how pro-President Donald Trump merchandise wound up being sold on one of its bases this week at a service-sponsored event orchestrated by the White House and the president's supporters.

Earlier this week, Trump spoke at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in celebration of the Army's 250th birthday. At the event, vendors were spotted selling Trump merchandise -- including "Make America Great Again" hats and other "America First" swag. The practice is likely at odds with long-standing Defense Department policy, which prohibits troops from wearing political garb such as hats or flags or expressing their political opinion while in uniform.

The policy is intended to preserve America's tradition of apolitical military forces, serving at the behest of a democratically elected president regardless of party. When asked about pictures of troops in uniform buying Trump merch on a military base, a spokesperson for the base said the matter was under review.

"The Army remains committed to its core values and apolitical service to the nation," said Col. Mary Ricks, a spokesperson for the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg. "The Army does not endorse political merchandise or the views it represents," Ricks added. "The vendor's presence is under review to determine how it was permitted and to prevent similar occurrences in the future."

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-merchandise-sold-army-base-presidents-speech-now/story?id=122764288

[bucolic_frolic]

1. They gonna slap tiny fingers hard /nt

[Irish_Dem]

2. Maybe just a stern letter would do the job.

[ananda]

3. LOL

[belpejic]

4. Have Susan Collins

deliver the letter.

[Irish_Dem]

5. If she clutches her pearls too it will really get to Trump.

Ha.

[Alice B.]

6. Is it sad that I'm just grateful there was a response, however pro forma?

nt

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

7. If I had been one of the soldiers present to hear Trump,

I would have asked for combat pay for the day. Because I definitely would have been combatting boredom listening to his same old schtick about how the 2020 election was stolen from him and how it is Joe Biden’s fault that Trump’s policies aren’t working.

Trump committed a hilarious gaffe while attacking Biden’s mental acuity as he claimed Biden “isn’t the sharpest bulb”.

The article does not mention that one of the Trump merchandise items sold was the odious “White Privilege” cards.

[flashman13]

8. No one just walks onto a military base and sets up a merch store. Some officer(s) gave their permission.

He or they should be removed from command and reprimanded.

Good order and discipline were definitely undermined by the whole event.

[riversedge]

9. I think you are onto something--Someone gave this vender permission to set up shop!!

[jmowreader]

12. It probably wasn't an officer

I think what we'll find is this merch store was operated as an Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Authorized Concessionaire. That's managed by the base's AAFES office and, so long as you're not selling anything illegal, it's pretty easy to get approved.

[flashman13]

13. Let's say you are right in the general case. But what about the case where troops in uniform are

prohibited from overt political displays while in uniform? You say as long as it's not illegal it's OK. But, technically at least, a soldier displaying political merch purchased prior to the event is in fact engaging in a illegal act. It's sort of a Catch 22. Some one probably should have asked what was being sold. White Supremacy Trump cards certainly sounds like a threat to good order and discipline.

[MW67]

10. Under review to determine how

it was permitted, 😂 Waiting for the definitive answer on that one , also , To prevent similar in the "very distant "future "but probably just ignore same now" you bet

[Magoo48]

11. I'd rather they wear that shit to Saturday's big fucking circle jerk then their uniforms.

Of course, I don’t plan on ever seeing our military uniforms performing in a Nazi parade. I’d rather see them all thrashing in a hog wallow than some tacky, fascist cosplay.