Republicans, including MAGA supporters, are livid that service members on an Air Force base in North Dakota were warned not to attend a rally that featured a speaker from a pro-Trump organization.
“Enough with the political weaponization and the wokeness of our military,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee Republican, wrote on X.
A text sent by Minot Air Force Base leaders sounded negative about the Dakota Patriot Rally that took place Nov. 17 and had a keynote speaker from Turning Point USA, a conservative organization. The message warned that some attendees of the rally could be confrontational with service members, adding that airmen could “jeopardize” their careers by being involved with such groups.
“Leaders, please exercise caution if downtown this weekend,” the text obtained by Fox News said. “We just got word of an event going at the fairgrounds downtown called Dakota Patriot Rally. Its guest speaker is from an alt-right organization called Turning Point Action.”
The text added, “Please advise your folks that if they are going to be downtown this weekend, it’s good to be cautious, as the crowds this event may attract could be confrontational to military members. Additionally please remind them that participation with groups such as Turning Point Action could jeopardize their continued service in the U.S. military.”
The keynote speaker was Turning Point’s chief operating officer, Tyler Bowyer.
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“Leadership at Air Force base in North Dakota warns airmen not to attend rally featuring Turning Point Action’s Tyler [Bowyer] or risk ‘jeopardizing’ military career,” Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk wrote on X on Tuesday. “The [Department of Defense] has declared WAR on conservatives. Congress should immediately investigate this absurd, unhinged threat.”
A spokesperson for Minot Air Force Base told Fox News that “the message was based on incorrect data and sent outside of official base messaging platforms.”
“Once the error was identified, base security officials corrected the message traffic to categorize the event as a local political fundraiser, with no security concerns,” the spokesperson said. “Further, the updated message communicated there were no issues with military members participating in their personal capacity — in line with their First Amendment rights.
“All Air Force airmen have a constitutional right to freedom of assembly. That said, there are some limitations placed on an airman’s ability to participate in political events in an official capacity. These limitations are set by ethical guidelines in the Code of Federal Regulations in order to maintain the politically neutral stance of the U.S. military.”
Republican lawmakers quickly jumped to the defense of Turning Point. Rep. Eli Crane wrote on X that “unfortunately this is not surprising in these times.”
“For those who have been to Turning Point event, this is exactly the type of event that members of our armed services should be attending,” the Arizona Republican wrote. “They also promote patriotism and the values this country is founded on.”
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Rep. Matt Gaetz wrote on X that he thought those involved in sending the text need to be held accountable.
“Whoever thought sending this message out was a good idea is definitely gonna be answering questions under oath in the Armed Services Committee,” the Florida Republican wrote.
Fellow Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills echoed Mr. Gaetz’s call for the committee to get involved.
“Our men & women of the Armed Forces fight for our freedoms only to be threatened/ denied by leftist leadership,” he wrote on X. “This command should start preparing for an Armed Services Committee hearing/investigation NOW!”
Sen. J.D. Vance put the blame on President Biden for the message.
“Biden now threatening veterans for attending rallies with TPUSA. Notably if a veteran posts a viral video with a lefty group nothing happens. Disgraceful,” the Ohio Republican wrote, also on X. “And drives home Senator [Tommy] Tuberville’s point that Biden is using the military for politics.”
Mr. Tuberville, Alabama Republican, has been holding up military nominations for months over the Pentagon’s abortion policies.
Conservatives have taken issue with the Defense Department for other reasons, too. House Republicans in September voted to reduce Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s salary after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, argued he should be fired for low military recruitment and loss of confidence.
Most recently, conservatives took issue with the department’s request to fund diversity programs. The request totaled $114 million.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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