In a recent rally in Coachella, California, former President Donald Trump took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris and her perceived vision of the military by invoking controversial imagery from Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film, “Full Metal Jacket.” By projecting the idea of a “woke military,” Trump positioned his narrative in stark contrast to an increasingly inclusive armed forces, one that seeks to accommodate various identities and experiences. The implications of this rhetoric reveal deeper societal tensions regarding the direction of both the military and American identity as a whole.
Trump’s video, which he shared on his social media platform, juxtaposed his authoritarian version of military service with what he insisted would be Harris’s more progressive approach. It featured clips from “Full Metal Jacket,” underscoring a rugged masculinity and traditional combat mentality, represented primarily through the brutal training techniques of Gunnery Sergeant Hartman—a character who famously enforced a hyper-masculine environment. Trump’s choice to highlight clips of servicemembers in drag and individuals like Rachel Levine, the transgender official in the Biden administration, only serves to illustrate his intention of framing Harris’s military policies as fundamentally at odds with the historical norms of armed service.
It is crucial to recognize the evolution of military inclusion, a shift marked notably by the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” under President Obama, which allowed servicemembers to openly express their sexual orientation. This reform represented a significant advancement in the fight for equality within the military framework. Since President Biden’s inauguration, numerous diversity initiatives have been introduced to ensure that every American can see themselves as part of the military, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Trump’s rhetoric both reflects and intensifies a cultural clash: one camp advocates for a more inclusive service, while the other projects an idealized past.
The nostalgia for a past military culture, which Trump seems to envision, is fraught with complexities that his reference to Kubrick’s film overlooks. While “Full Metal Jacket” accurately depicts the harsh realities of training, its narratives of toxic masculinity do not equate to a successful or modern military. In fact, the tragic fate of Sergeant Hartman at the hands of a soldier he failed to connect with suggests a broader commentary on the pitfalls of an overly rigid military culture. If Trump were to impose his vision of military service, it could risk fostering an environment that stifles emotional resilience and versatility, qualities imperative not only in combat but in modern warfare strategy.
As we look ahead to the next elections, the debate regarding the form and function of the military continues to shape public discourse. Trump’s outlined vision starkly contrasts with the evolving narrative surrounding service and identity, one that champions diversity and inclusion as strengths rather than weaknesses. While it remains unclear exactly how the military’s structure would change if Trump returned to power, one thing is certain: the conversation around military identity will become increasingly polarized. The ultimate question lies in what type of military America truly wants—one that is a reflection of its diverse populace or one that hearkens back to outdated norms of masculinity and exclusion.
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