Is Don Trump fit to be Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of America?

2019-11-18T00:28:21-05:00

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Nov 18 at 2019 12:53 AM

2019-11-18T00:53:24-05:00

Oh boy..... just wait for the arguments on this one.
I'm not sure if it matters. He IS CiC of the US Armed Forces whether anyone likes it or not.
I don't know Donald Trump. The man that the media portrays I dislike. I dislike the amount of confirmed lies he has told. I dislike his constant twitter battles. I dislike his constant division of americans.
BUT, Donald Trump IS the commander in chief; whether anyone likes it or not.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 18 at 2019 2:23 AM

2019-11-18T02:23:18-05:00

The only Constitutional qualification is being elected as President (or succeeding to the Presidency after a vacancy in the Oval). He has met that qualification. Therefore he is fit enough.

Response by SSG Robert Mark Odom made Nov 18 at 2019 6:44 AM

2019-11-18T06:44:16-05:00

Great question!

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Nov 18 at 2019 8:00 AM

2019-11-18T08:00:19-05:00

CW2 Ragins has said it clearly and in my opinion... best. Adding my "$.02" as a veteran, when was the last time we had an actual combat veteran as President... and how did they perform in the role? Unless I'm mistaken, that was George Bush Sr., and Desert Storm was the most notable military action during his administration. Before that, Johnson served as an intelligence gatherer for the Navy, and Nixon served in an air operations position in the Pacific... both men's administrations were marked by the Vietnam War. Kennedy, like Bush, saw combat action during WWII... let's add the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis to the beginning of Vietnam as hallmarks of his presidency. Obama was too young to have served in Vietnam, but didn't serve during any of the subsequent conflicts of his generation. Clinton avoided the Draft due to ROTC deferment. Bush Jr. served, but managed to avoid posting in a combat capacity as a member of the Air National Guard. Most of us here have first-hand experience with the military decisions of each of those Presidents.

So far, Trump's administration has seen the decimation of ISIS, and avoidance of escalation of hostilities between ourselves, a NATO ally, and the Russian Federation in Syria. Time alone can tell if these are mistakes in policy, or wise decisions made with an interest to preserving American lives and resources.

Frankly, questioning the man's fitness for being the CIC based on his lack of a service record would seem irrelevant... unless we also want to attack any of his recent predecessors as well. Challenging his decisions regarding military matters enters complex and ambiguous territory that requires us to balance current sentiments against possible future outcomes.

Ultimately, the man was elected President, and therefore... Commander in Chief. The greatest single referendum on his performance as either should be the next election.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2019 10:46 AM

2019-11-18T10:46:34-05:00

I think that after three years in office, we have enough track record to answer that question.
Jury is out on Afghanistan; not much has changed there really.
ISIS defeat is an unqualified win.

Reasonable people can disagree about his policy decisions. But I for one am grateful that we are not going around willy-nilly looking for new conflicts under this administration so far. I've had enough of war, but I will keep my knife sharp and my equipment ready just in case.

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Nov 18 at 2019 11:01 AM

2019-11-18T11:01:17-05:00

Reagan had dementia during the tail of his presidency. Was he unfit to be commander of the military? No, because he held the office of President. Was FDR unfit to lead the military at the height of WWII with polio and all his other health problems? No. Because he was President. You will see differing opinions about Trump's ability because "orange man bad" syndrome.

Response by SPC David S. made Nov 18 at 2019 11:59 AM

2019-11-18T11:59:22-05:00

I have a feeling this is a rhetorical question as there is no bases provided to support the question or discussion. Regardless of intent of the question - the only test I know of is one needs to be elected President of the US in order to be the Commander in Chief. I think a better question would be "Has Trump been an effective Commander in Chief?"

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Nov 18 at 2019 2:56 PM

2019-11-18T14:56:30-05:00

Not at all as he repetitively reject vital data from the Intelligence community re: continuing Russian interference to promote his election and to harm any of his political opponents. remember how he sided w/ Putin in this regard at Helsinki, and in front of the whole world.
When I served, Nixon was our C-in-C, and he was admired for his foreign policies.
Rich

Response by Sgt Leonard Lamb made Nov 18 at 2019 3:18 PM

2019-11-18T15:18:28-05:00

I guess "fit" is interpretive. For this purpose.... Would you want him in your fox hole... i.e.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2019 5:11 PM

2019-11-18T17:11:32-05:00

I suspect that the question will be answered on Nov 3rd, 2020.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2019 6:49 PM

2019-11-18T18:49:49-05:00

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Nov 20 at 2019 10:42 AM

2019-11-20T10:42:04-05:00

Fact: 62.98 million Americans and the Electoral College stated he is, and that's all that counts.