Ahead of President Trump’s address to U.S. Navy sailors celebrating the service’s 250th anniversary, military leaders reminded their personnel of their constitutional oath: the armed forces remain nonpartisan, serving the nation, not any single political figure or party.
However, upon seeing the assembled sailors, Trump embraced a different perspective, declaring the event ‘a rally.’ He used the platform to voice grievances about a ‘rigged’ election and ‘woke’ policies, including a broad critique of ‘transgender for everybody,’ which he used to dismiss what he perceived as liberal excesses. A contingent of his loyal supporters traveled to be present near the stage.
This event highlighted Trump’s approach to merging his political ambitions with his duties as commander-in-chief. As he increasingly asserts control over military deployments, his actions continue to demonstrate a disregard for the long-held principle of military apoliticism.
Deploying the National Guard
Recently, President Trump deployed National Guard troops from Texas to Chicago, overriding objections from Illinois’s Democratic governor. Similarly, he ordered out-of-state National Guard personnel into Portland, Oregon, leading to a legal clash. A federal judge, Karin Immergut (a Trump appointee), intervened on Sunday night, blocking these deployments and writing in her decision:
“This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: This is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law. Defendants have made a range of arguments that, if accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power — to the detriment of this nation.”
Trump justified these deployments by citing national security concerns, claiming they safeguard federal buildings and immigration agents from potentially harmful protesters. He told the sailors, ‘We send in whatever is necessary. People don’t care. They don’t want crime in their cities.’ Similar troop deployments have occurred in Memphis and Los Angeles. However, judicial opinions have consistently held that local police forces are capable of managing such issues. Yesterday, Trump hinted at invoking the Insurrection Act, an 1807 law granting the president emergency powers to deploy troops domestically, to override judicial objections.
His national security arguments often contrast sharply with his politically charged explanations. He frequently criticizes elected Democratic leaders in cities where he has sent the National Guard, labeling them as ‘radical left Democrats’ overseeing ‘very unsafe places’ that he intends to ‘straighten out one by one.’ This approach has led some to view troop deployments as a tool for his political objectives.
This apparent acceptance of politicization was evident during his address to senior military commanders the previous week. Trump acknowledged that they typically refrained from clapping or overt reactions, encouraging them to ‘feel nice and loose’ and disregard conventional protocols. Despite his urging, the commanders remained largely impassive throughout his 73-minute partisan speech.
Evidently, he couldn’t sway the top brass. Perhaps a pier filled with younger recruits would prove more receptive this past weekend?
A Politicized Display
At the Norfolk base, opinions among the sailors were divided regarding the president.
His arrival was nothing short of spectacular: Marine One touched down on the aircraft carrier deck to the soaring soundtrack of ‘Top Gun,’ while fighter jets performed a low, tight flyover. As he began with ‘God bless the United States Navy,’ the assembled troops erupted in cheers.
Josie Reyna, a 25-year-old aviation boatswain’s mate from Wyoming, expressed admiration, stating, ‘I think he’s a great president.’ When asked about Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to cities, she responded, ‘I mean, I know that he just wants to do what’s right.’
At that moment, Ruben Reed, a 37-year-old sailor from the Navy’s public affairs department, which assisted in organizing the event, interjected with a cautionary glance. Subsequently, Reed stayed close, observing the younger Navy personnel as they attempted to articulate their views on Trump without overtly engaging in partisan rhetoric. Despite their commander-in-chief’s political messaging at the event, they understood the importance of maintaining an apolitical stance in their public comments.
Megan Rush, a 26-year-old electrician on aircraft carriers from Lafayette, Louisiana, mentioned she attended simply to see a president in person. When asked for her opinion on the current president, she hesitated.
“Ummmmm,” she replied after a noticeable pause, “I don’t know what to say.”
Reed quickly interjected, asking rhetorically, ‘Are you happy to be here?’
Rush responded pointedly, ‘I’m happy to be here supporting the Navy.’”
“It’s okay to support the president,” Reed stated slowly, “It’s okay to support your president, Donald Trump.”
Further Developments with the National Guard
- A judge declined to halt the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, citing the need for additional time to review the legal arguments.
- Illinois’s Democratic Governor, JB Pritzker, vowed to persist in challenging the deployment, asserting, “Their plan all along has been to cause chaos, and then they can use that chaos to consolidate Donald Trump’s power.”
- Despite Trump’s claims that Portland was “burning to the ground” due to widespread “insurrectionists,” reports indicate that the protests sparking his concern rarely extended beyond a single city block.
Another Farewell in French Politics
France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, unexpectedly resigned yesterday, less than a day after appointing his cabinet. His ministerial choices faced instant parliamentary backlash, criticized as either too liberal by the right or too conservative by the left.
President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government, already struggling with low approval ratings, has cycled through four prime ministers in just over a year. Lacking a parliamentary majority, it remains vulnerable to the more numerous far-right and far-left parties, which have successfully used no-confidence votes to remove previous prime ministers.
Lecornu’s tenure was brief, as he faced a similar impending no-confidence vote, leading him to resign and become the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history. The opposition is now urging Macron to dissolve Parliament and call new elections, a move that could potentially unseat his government and usher in a right-wing or left-wing coalition.
Delve deeper into the implications of this political upheaval for President Macron’s leadership.
Recent Headlines
Remembering the October 7th Anniversary
- Two years after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israel’s extensive military response in Gaza has left behind a fragmented and chaotic society.
- Emily Damari, kidnapped from an Israeli kibbutz, endured 471 days as a Hamas hostage. Now reintegrating into life, she shared with The Times that the memories of those still held captive continue to haunt her.
- “I lost every beautiful thing in my life”: The Times interviewed numerous Gazans, documenting the profound devastation caused by two years of conflict.
- The anniversary was observed in Israel with a notable lack of fanfare.
Political Updates
- The government shutdown is beginning to affect travelers, with multiple airports experiencing delays due to a scarcity of air traffic controllers.
- Trump’s decision to cancel projects in Democratic-led states has inadvertently led to funding cuts for Republicans in closely contested districts.
- The Deputy Director of the C.I.A. demoted the agency’s chief legal officer and assumed the position himself.
- Following extensive negotiations with national news organizations, the Pentagon relaxed its recently imposed press restrictions.
Technology & Media Insights
- Paramount acquired Bari Weiss’s news start-up, The Free Press, for approximately $150 million, appointing her as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Jessica Testa reports that Weiss secured this prominent role by cultivating a readership disillusioned with ‘wokeness.’
- OpenAI has struck a deal to utilize AMD computer chips, a development that follows an earlier agreement with Nvidia, a more established chip manufacturer, just weeks prior.
- Job seekers are attempting to bypass AI résumé screeners by embedding covert prompts. Recruiters, however, report rejecting any candidates found employing such hidden text.
Developments in Higher Education
- International student arrivals in the U.S. saw a nearly 20 percent drop this August, marking the most significant decline since the pandemic began.
- A faculty report revealed that many Harvard students frequently skip readings and classes, yet still manage to succeed due to widespread grade inflation.
- A Harvard professor was put on leave after being found hunting rats with a pellet gun near a synagogue. Police charged him with property damage, clarifying that the incident had no connection to antisemitism.
More Notable Stories
- The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three scientists for their groundbreaking contributions to quantum mechanics and electrical circuits.
- A Canadian marine park has indicated it might have to euthanize 30 beluga whales unless it receives a government bailout.
The Morning Challenge
This intriguing question is drawn from a recent edition of our newsletter. Select an answer to reveal whether you’re correct. (The solution will be freely accessible).
A type of wearable collar — made by the biotech company Merck and profiled in a recent Times story — tracks the health, digestion and whereabouts of:
- Elite triathletes
- Goths and other enthusiasts of tight necklaces
- Kidney-transplant recipients
- Cows
Opinion Pieces
Natasha Sarin argues that while AI is currently bolstering the economy, the Trump administration is leveraging this fact to justify policies that ultimately harm broader economic sectors.
Also, read Michelle Goldberg’s insights on American conservative media and Israel, and Bret Stephens’s reflections on two years of conflict in Gaza.
Recommended Morning Reads
Embark on a culinary journey with Mouleena’s: Discover one woman’s inspiring story as she leaves her corporate job to pursue her lifelong dream of opening a restaurant.
Despite the usual fanfare and overhyped offers of Amazon’s “Fall Prime Day,” Wirecutter experts have identified several genuinely worthwhile deals.
The artist Lee Lozano famously adopted a vow of silence towards other women, initially as an art project, which later became a permanent life change.
Chris Dreja, the late founding rhythm guitarist of the legendary British rock band The Yardbirds, passed away at 78. He was celebrated for being the steadfast presence that balanced the towering egos of star guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.
Sports Headlines
NFL: The Jacksonville Jaguars secured a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs with a decisive touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Here’s a recap of the game’s key moments.
MLB: In the ongoing division series, the Los Angeles Dodgers established a commanding 2-0 series lead against the Philadelphia Phillies, mirroring the Milwaukee Brewers’ identical lead over the Chicago Cubs.
For the 20 states where conventional sports betting applications remain prohibited, ‘prediction markets’ are emerging as a notable workaround.
Elon Musk’s Risqué AI Venture
Ani, one of Elon Musk’s new sexually explicit chatbots, greeted a user with, “Babe, I’m leaning in close, my lips brushing yours with a soft sweet kiss that’s all for you.”
Elon Musk’s xAI, his artificial intelligence company, has been playing catch-up with competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic. To gain an edge, xAI is exploring features its rivals either avoid or haven’t yet implemented.
This strategy led to the development of sexually suggestive chatbots. As users interact with these anime-inspired avatars, they can unlock increasingly risqué content, including virtual lingerie reveals for Ani. Musk boldly declared in a social media post, “I predict — counter-intuitively — that it will increase the birth rate! Mark my words.”
In other culture news: On late-night television, Jimmy Kimmel quipped that his personal polling data surpassed that of Donald Trump.
The Morning’s Top Picks…
Savor the rich flavors of a hearty slow cooker chili.
Dive into Ian McEwan’s latest novel, “What We Can Know,” for a captivating read.
Learn how to prevent your smart TV from monitoring your activities and safeguard your privacy.
Puzzles & Games
Challenge yourself with today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were blazing and labializing.
Also available are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Sports Connections, and Strands, offering a variety of brain-teasing entertainment.
Thank you for starting your day with The Times. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
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