Washington, DC – Today, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) made the following statement about President Trump’s remarks at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and their discussion of politics and the military:

“Once again, Donald Trump has made political comments in an address to a military audience that is duty-bound to be apolitical. The President’s efforts to politicize the military, starting with his remarks at the CIA memorial, are becoming a troubling rhetorical pattern. Attempts to politicize the military like this are never appropriate, and they put our men and women in uniform in an untenable position. This cannot continue.”

The President began his remarks at CENTCOM by saying, "We had a wonderful election, didn't we? And I saw those numbers, and you like me and I like you, that's the way it works.” He also touted his political endorsements during the address.

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