Military Presence Behind Donald Trump During Border Speech Raises Alarm

Footage of the Texas adjutant general standing in military uniform behind Donald Trump during his speech on border security has sparked controversy online, with one commentator terming it a terrible failure of leadership.

Major General Thomas Suelzer, the Texas adjutant general, was behind Trump on Thursday when the former president delivered his address during a visit to Eagle Pass, Texas. Suelzer also heads the Texas Military Department and is the most senior uniformed Texas National Guard officer.

Newsweek contacted Suelzer via an email sent to the Texas Military Department at 6:15 a.m. EST on Friday. This article will be updated if he decides to comment.

The Context

Trump, the firm favorite for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has made illegal immigration one of the focal points for his campaign. President Joe Biden also visited the Texas border on Thursday, at Brownsville, where he urged Republicans in Congress to back a bipartisan Senate bill aimed to improve border security and provide aid to American allies.

What We Know

Suelzer was appointed by Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, who accompanied Trump during his visit to the Mexico border on Thursday.

While federal military officials are not allowed to endorse candidates running for office in uniform, the rules are different for political appointees like Suelzer.

With Suelzer standing behind him, Trump branded California Governor Gavin Newsom "New-Scum" and said the Biden administration was "allowing millions of people from places unknown, from countries unknown, who don't speak languages" into the U.S.

Views

There was sharp criticism over Suelzer's presence in a military uniform on X, formerly Twitter. New York-based author Patrick Chovanec wrote: "Since Trump is not President, this is by definition a campaign event, and no one should be there in military uniform. Period."

Joe Perticone, a writer for Bulwark Online, said: "Not the best look for Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer on Trump's shoulder, nodding along in uniform while a political candidate goes on a racist tirade at a lectern displaying his campaign's fundraising number."

This view was shared by John Jackson, an ex-Republican who joined the Ukrainian military to fight the Russian invasion. He posted: "This is a terrible failure of leadership by Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer. It is literally Military 101 that you don't act in a political capacity while in uniform. This man is utterly incompetent at best. Everyone knew this event was a political stunt. Nodding at racist trash."

However, Mark Hertling, a former army officer who commanded United States Army Europe, said that Suelzer is a political appointee rather than a member of the federal military.

Hertling said: "For those who may not understand, Maj Gen Suelzer is The Adjutant General of the Texas Guard. USAFA Class of 90 & a C5 pilot, he left active duty in 2007, joined the Air Nat'l Guard. TAGs are political appointees & get their ranks/positions from their Governor. Abbott's his boss."

During his address, Trump claimed that Biden, a practicing Catholic, was discriminating against Catholics.

Trump added: "Under Crooked Joe Biden, Christians and Americans of faith are being persecuted like nothing this nation has ever seen before.

"Catholics, in particular, are being targeted and evangelicals are surely on the watch list as well."

However, Trump's claims about immigration were rejected by Victor Trevino, the mayor of Texan border city Laredo, who told CNN what the Republican had said was "not the reality."