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US service members who attended a memorial address during President Trump's trip to Japan and who were photographed wearing crests bearing a motto resembling his campaign slogan may have violated the strict rules of Pentagon forbidding soldiers to manifest their political preferences.
The group of soldiers aboard the USS Wasp in Yokosuka, Japan, was photographed by Vivian Salama, a Wall Street Journal reporter. The airmen posing for the photo all had matching patches that represented a picture of what appeared to be the chair, as well as the following: "Make Aircrew Great Again". Photographed photographers also captured images of the same military.
Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images
According to the Department of Defense, these patches may not be consistent with the Pentagon's longstanding guidelines that military personnel on active duty should not engage in partisan political activities.
"All military personnel will avoid inferring that their political activities involve or appear to involve a DoD sponsorship, approval or approval by a candidate, campaign or political cause," the policy states.
Prohibited political activities include active campaigning for a candidate, soliciting contributions, participating in a partisan parade, or wearing a uniform for a partisan demonstration. Some political activities are allowed and encouraged – for example, voting at an election and donating to a personal campaign.
Although it is unclear whether the crew members belonged to the navy or navies, David Martin of CBS News reports that in both cases, the Department of the Navy bears the responsibility.
Navy spokesman Samuel Boyle said in a statement to CBS News: "Navy leaders are currently studying this case to make sure that wearing the patch does not constitute a violation of the policy or DoD regulations. "
In his address to about 1,000 sailors in uniform and Marines, Mr. Trump said that the assembled soldiers were "so beautiful" that they would leave the army and end up in Hollywood.
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