The Former President's Drive to Inject Politics Into US Military ‘Reminiscent of Soviet Purges, Warns Top Officer

Donald Trump and his defense secretary his appointed defense secretary are mounting an systematic campaign to infuse with partisan politics the top ranks of the US military – a push that bears disturbing similarities to Soviet-era tactics and could need decades to undo, a retired senior army officer has stated.

Maj Gen Paul Eaton has issued a stark warning, saying that the campaign to subordinate the higher echelons of the military to the president’s will was unparalleled in recent history and could have severe future repercussions. He cautioned that both the reputation and efficiency of the world’s preeminent military was under threat.

“If you poison the organization, the remedy may be incredibly challenging and damaging for commanders in the future.”

He stated further that the actions of the current leadership were placing the status of the military as an apolitical force, outside of electoral agendas, in jeopardy. “As the phrase goes, credibility is earned a drip at a time and emptied in gallons.”

A Life in Service

Eaton, seventy-five, has spent his entire life to defense matters, including 37 years in uniform. His parent was an air force pilot whose aircraft was shot down over Laos in 1969.

Eaton himself was an alumnus of the US Military Academy, earning his commission soon after the end of the Vietnam conflict. He climbed the ladder to become infantry chief and was later deployed to the Middle East to rebuild the Iraqi armed forces.

War Games and Reality

In the past few years, Eaton has been a sharp critic of alleged manipulation of defense institutions. In 2024 he participated in tabletop exercises that sought to predict potential power grabs should a certain candidate return to the presidency.

A number of the outcomes predicted in those planning sessions – including politicisation of the military and sending of the national guard into urban areas – have reportedly been implemented.

The Pentagon Purge

In Eaton’s analysis, a first step towards compromising military independence was the installation of a television host as secretary of defense. “The appointee not only pledges allegiance to an individual, he professes absolute loyalty – whereas the military swears an oath to the nation's founding document,” Eaton said.

Soon after, a series of dismissals began. The independent oversight official was dismissed, followed by the top military lawyers. Out, too, went the top officers.

This wholesale change sent a clear and chilling message that echoed throughout the military services, Eaton said. “Toe the line, or we will fire you. You’re in a different world now.”

A Historical Parallel

The removals also created uncertainty throughout the ranks. Eaton said the effect reminded him of the Soviet dictator's political cleansings of the top officers in Soviet forces.

“The Soviet leader purged a lot of the best and brightest of the military leadership, and then inserted political commissars into the units. The uncertainty that permeated the armed forces of the Soviet Union is similar to today – they are not killing these officers, but they are stripping them from leadership roles with parallel consequences.”

The end result, Eaton said, was that “you’ve got a dangerous precedent inside the American military right now.”

Legal and Ethical Lines

The debate over lethal US military strikes in the Caribbean is, for Eaton, a sign of the erosion that is being inflicted. The Pentagon leadership has stated the strikes target cartel members.

One initial strike has been the subject of intense scrutiny. Media reports revealed that an order was given to “leave no survivors.” Under US military law, it is prohibited to order that all individuals must be killed irrespective of whether they are combatants.

Eaton has stated clearly about the potential criminality of this action. “It was either a grave breach or a murder. So we have a real problem here. This decision bears a striking resemblance to a U-boat commander machine gunning victims in the water.”

Domestic Deployment

Looking ahead, Eaton is profoundly concerned that actions of engagement protocols outside US territory might soon become a reality within the country. The administration has assumed control of national guard troops and sent them into multiple urban areas.

The presence of these personnel in major cities has been challenged in the judicial system, where legal battles continue.

Eaton’s biggest fear is a dramatic clash between federalised forces and municipal law enforcement. He conjured up a hypothetical scenario where one state's guard is commandeered and sent into another state against its will.

“What could go wrong?” Eaton said. “You can very easily see an escalation in which both sides think they are following orders.”

Eventually, he warned, a “significant incident” was likely to take place. “There are going to be individuals getting hurt who really don’t need to get hurt.”