A US Army First Lieutenant sparked widespread backlash after posting a viral farewell video criticizing the Commander-in-Chief. The video features the officer expressing his disdain for the Commander-in-Chief and every American who has thanked service members for their sacrifices.
The officer, who has served in the US Army for 14 years, used the video as an opportunity to attack the Commander-in-Chief and the administration's military and foreign policy. In the clip, he says, "So today is my last day wearing this uniform, and I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart, f*ck Donald Trump."
The officer accompanied the video with a caption criticizing the Trump administration's military and foreign policy, stating, "The best way to show your thanks to our troops is to vote for politicians who will only put them in harm's way when absolutely necessary. Not to serve their own egos."
The video quickly ignited a wave of criticism online, with many users arguing that a commissioned officer should not publicly attack the Commander-in-Chief while still in uniform. One widely shared response read, "This Lieutenant is still subject to UCMJ even if it's his last day in the Army. He's a disgrace to the uniform. Dishonorable discharge & send him to Fort Leavenworth."
However, others questioned whether the officer remained subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) at the time the video was recorded. A service member remains fully subject to the UCMJ until their official military discharge process is complete and their final separation time takes effect.
The timing of the officer's discharge and whether he was still subject to the UCMJ at the time the video was recorded could determine whether any action would be taken. If his discharge had already become effective, the UCMJ generally would no longer apply to this new conduct.
