National Guard authorities have opened an investigation into whether the Texas adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, broke military politicking regulations by accompanying former President Donald Trump to a political rally in Eagle Pass, Texas, while still wearing his uniform. The event, which was delivered live during Trump’s trip to the U.S.-Mexico border, has sparked controversy and outrage, as political rally appearances are strictly forbidden under military regulations.
Maj. Gen. Suelzer, the commander of the Texas Military Department since two years, was observed standing with Trump after the latter’s immigration speech. This has caused eyebrows to be raised regarding the compliance with Defense Department regulations that forbid members from attending political rallies in uniform since it may be interpreted as an official sanction.
The National Guard Bureau confirmed it had received a number of questions about Suelzer’s attendance at the rally and that the issue is under consideration. Although the Texas Military Department, which Suelzer leads, has made no official comment on the issue, the nuances of military law come into consideration, as Guard members on state active duty status do not always consult the same federal guidelines even as they wear their uniforms.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, aimed at migrant border crossings, is overseen by Suelzer. He has often put out statements regarding the operation and political discussions around it, typically alongside state authorities such as Abbott who was present and spoke positively about Trump’s border security actions.
Heidi Urben, a Georgetown University law professor and expert on military regulations on politicking, stated that Suelzer’s actions technically may not violate military regulations, but they do violate the long-standing principle of nonpartisanship that has been followed by the military. The principle prevents soldiers from suggesting official endorsement of political ideology. The blurring of active duty and retired generals, along with various elements of the military by the general public, only serves to enhance the likelihood of the perception of the military as a partisan organization, in the opinion of Urben.
Presence of uniformed military personnel during political events is not new and has met criticisms in the past, such as during the 2020 presidential nominating conventions of both Trump and Biden. Nonetheless, Urben emphasized the duty of military personnel to exercise good judgment and maintain the sense of nonpartisanship since political leaders may politicize the military for partisan purposes.
Because politicians in both parties seem unable to resist the temptation to use the military as props or a backdrop during partisan speeches, it falls on military officials to exercise good judgment and uphold the spirit and intent of the norm of nonpartisanship, she stated.
