This month, the U.S. Naval Academy is extending an invitation to a vocal critic of Donald Trump to deliver the main address at a prestigious lecture series. The Bancroft Lecture, an annual event that pays tribute to George Bancroft, the founder of the academy, is set to take place on October 10, with Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor from New York University, as the featured speaker.
Ben-Ghiat, in an op-ed published last month, announced her participation and openly criticized former President Donald Trump, labeling him as an “authoritarian” and comparing him to notorious dictators across the globe.
In a Substack post dated September 4, Ben-Ghiat expressed, “I will be speaking about what happens to militaries under authoritarian rule, touching on Fascist Italy, Pinochet’s Chile and the Russian military during the war on Ukraine. That brings us to today’s post, on why Donald Trump insults the military.”
She also condemned Trump for his appearance with Gold Star families at Arlington National Cemetery during the anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, an event marked by the loss of 13 U.S. servicemembers. Despite being invited by the Gold Star families, Trump’s presence and the location within the cemetery attracted criticism from progressive media outlets.
“Insulting and mocking the military are among his most consistent habits,” Ben-Ghiat remarked. “Why does he do it? His authoritarian character, desire to destroy democratic values and ideals, and loyalty to autocrats who see the powerful U.S. military as an obstacle to their geopolitical aims.” She also suggested that Trump’s attitudes closely align with those of other authoritarian figures, such as Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia.
Under Department of Defense Directive No. 1344, which has been in effect for nearly two decades, active military personnel, including officials and educators at the Naval Academy, are barred from participating in partisan political activities to ensure that their actions do not suggest official endorsement. The Naval Academy has yet to comment on the specifics of Ben-Ghiat’s upcoming lecture.
Furthermore, it’s observed that progressive policies have increasingly characterized military and Pentagon practices under the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration. Initiatives focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, as well as racial and gender quotas, abortion subsidies, and the promotion of LGBTQ+ values, have become more prevalent.
These changes emerge as the military faces ongoing challenges with recruitment and retention, issues that have intensified during the current administration.
