As the United States prepares to celebrate her 249th birthday, a growing number of Americans say they’ve noticed a marked decline in patriotism.
More specifically, 44% of respondents in an <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/5379913-44-percent-say-us-becoming-less-patriotic-survey/">Economist/YouGov survey</a> published this week said they believe the U.S. is becoming less patriotic. In comparison, a much smaller 14% said they think the nation is becoming more so.
Jesse Parks, a former U.S. Army Sergeant who served in Afghanistan, has noticed this shift in attitude.
“[Seeing] flags being burnt and seeing protests being more frequent,” Parks told the Daily Wire, “it tears down the country.”
Born into a military family, Parks said he was inspired to follow in the footsteps of those who came before him.
“All my uncles, dad, older brother, served. Everybody,” he said.
Parks initially applied to serve in the United States Marine Corps, but his application was rejected. Undeterred, he enlisted later in the United States Army, where he was accepted and rose through the ranks.
When asked why he enlisted, Parks said, “I think you join the military to fight for your country. It opens up a lot of doors, but in the end, you fight.”
He was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2010, where he said his unit’s primary mission was to train and advise the Afghan National Army Basic Training Command Teams, alongside the British and French Armies. He later became an infantry fire team leader.
Parks said that patriotism was a major factor in his decision to join the armed forces. He described it as “a love of your country put into action, whether that&#8217;s military, that&#8217;s political, or that&#8217;s civil service.”
But what is “patriotism” anyway?
“Patriotism” <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism">is often defined</a> as a “love for or devotion to one’s country.”
Yet, a growing number of Americans say they don’t see a shared sense of admiration for the country they call home. Lightning rod political issues ranging from abortion to illegal immigration, along with a major political realignment that has seen the Democratic Party lurch harder to the left and the Republican Party lurch harder to the right, have revealed a simmering disunity.
“[Patriotism is] a big part of what allows us to progress,” Parks said. “It is what kind of helps us progress as a society. We don&#8217;t all have to have the same views, but as long as we have patriotism, which is different than nationalism, as long as it&#8217;s there, it allows us to progress.”
<h3><a href="https://get.dailywire.com/freedom/">JULY 4 SALE: Get Six Months Of DW+ Free</a></h3>
While Parks has an expressed love of country, his may not be a shared passion: only 67% of people claim to be extremely or very proud to be American, down from 91% in 2004, according to a 2024 <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/646655/american-pride-remains-near-record-low.aspx">Gallup</a> survey.
A separate <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/646655/american-pride-remains-near-record-low.aspx">Marist</a> poll likewise found a majority of Americans have noticed this shift, with 52% of respondents stating that the country seems less patriotic than it was just a few years ago.
The disunity and decline may feel all the more evident with the recent riots and attacks on first responders.
“[T]here has been a perversion of patriotism,” Parks told the Daily Wire.
“Groups like Antifa seem like they don&#8217;t care about this country and want to tear it down,” he said. “January 6 was similar; it was a movement to dismantle the country. It is seen on both sides.” 
Rather than being complicit in this division, Parks said, groups such as Antifa should “consider the opportunity they have in this time in history to affect the country’s direction, and to act accordingly in a constructive manner.”
Despite all of this, the Army veteran sees hope for the future.
“There is a lot of talk about division in the country at the moment, but I don’t think that is anything new,” Parks said. “I hope people will get involved over the issues they think are important.”
Participation “will increase their sense of pride and reignite a love for their country.”
* * *
Simon Olech is a reporter studying journalism at the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Hands holding American flag in a wheat field at sunset. Independence Day, 4th of July.

Americans Say Patriotism Is Fading. One Army Veteran Is Pushing Back With Steely-Eyed Optimism

4th of July

Fourth of July

interview

Opinion

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

United States

An ex-Army Sergeant faces up to ten years in prison after he pleaded guilty to attempting to give American military secrets to China. 
Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, last stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, pled guilty on Wednesday to charges of attempting to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. He will be sentenced in September by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour. In addition to prison, Schmidt could be hit with a $250,000 fine.  
Schmidt was an active duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020 and mainly worked with the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. During his military service, he had access to information designated as secret and top secret, according to the Justice Department. 
After leaving the military in January 2020, Schmidt emailed the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and the Chinese security service, offering to provide them with national defense information. 
In March 2020, Schmidt flew to Hong Kong, where he attempted to give Chinese security officials intelligence he had kept from his time in the military. According to the Justice Department, he produced multiple documents detailing the “high level secrets” he had in his possession and offered to give a device that allows access to secure military computers to the Chinese. 
He flew back to the United States in October 2023 when he was arrested in San Francisco. 
“Joseph Daniel Schmidt was once a trusted guardian of our nation’s secrets and swore an oath to defend and protect U.S. national security,” Assistant Director Suzanne Turner of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division said in October 2023 when Schmidt was indicted. “As alleged by the government, Schmidt betrayed his promise and potentially placed our nation at risk in his attempts to pass national defense information to Chinese security services.”
In recent years, the FBI has made a number of arrests involving former American soldiers accused of attempting to give sensitive military information to China. 
Earlier this year, former Army intelligence officer Korbein Schultz was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-army-intel-officer-sentenced-after-selling-u-s-military-secrets-to-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to seven years in prison for selling critical military documents to an individual believed to be tied to the Chinese government. Schultz was paid $42,000 for information on American military exercises and technical equipment manuals.
Just last month, the Justice Department <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/active-duty-and-former-us-army-soldiers-arrested-theft-government-property-and-bribery">announced</a> that Jian Zhao and Li Tian, both active duty Army soldiers also stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and former soldier Ruoyu Duan had been charged with stealing U.S. military secrets. They were accused of taking top-secret hard drives, information on weapon systems, and documents on missile defenses to sell to individuals based in China.

TOPSHOT-ASIAD-2022-2023-HANGZHOU-OPENING

Ex-U.S. Army Soldier Admits Plot To Provide China With Sensitive Military Intel

Ex-U.S. Army Soldier Admits To Plot To Provide China With Sensitive Military Intel

Communist China

Military

Politics

Spying

Washington

Colonel Nathan McCormack, who was tasked with helping advise the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Israel-related matters, has been removed from his position after his anti-Israel social media posts were brought to light.
McCormack, who was the Levant and Egypt branch chief at the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s J5 planning directorate, according to his LinkedIn, posted several controversial tweets on his X account. He called Israel a “death cult” and referred to the Israeli government as “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies,” among other things, <a href="https://www.jns.org/chief-israel-planner-at-pentagon-bashes-jewish-state-publicly-extensively/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jewish News Syndicate </a><a href="https://www.jns.org/chief-israel-planner-at-pentagon-bashes-jewish-state-publicly-extensively/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
A Joint Staff official told The Daily Wire that the Department of Defense said McCormack was removed from his position with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and that the matter is being handed over to the U.S. Army for further action.
The official added that McCormack’s posts do not reflect the position of the Joint Staff or the Department of Defense.
“Our global alliances and partnerships are vital to our national security, enhancing our collective defense, deterrence, and operational reach,” the official said.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-has-been-clear-for-14-years-that-iran-cannot-have-a-nuclear-weapon?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Has+Been+Clear+For+14+Years+That+Iran+Cannot+Have+A+Nuclear+Weapon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TRUMP HAS BEEN CLEAR FOR 14 YEARS THAT IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON</a>
McCormack’s semi-anonymous account has been deleted following JNS’s report.
The J5 directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff advises the chairman of the Joint Chiefs on military strategy, planning, and policy across a wide range of national security issues. McCormack’s role tasked him with preparing senior leadership to speak with partner nations —including Israel.
McCormack made the posts on an X account where he calls himself “Nate,” but has posted several times about his job and even <a href="https://archive.ph/ox92m" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared a photo</a> of his Meritorious Service Medal certificate.
Since assuming his position — which his LinkedIn says he began in June 2024 — McCormack has posted numerous times about his views on the Jewish state, especially after Hamas’s October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-israel-strikes-iran?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Trump+Calls+For+Iran+To+Surrender%2C+Says+The+Ayatollah+Is+An+%E2%80%98Easy+Target%E2%80%99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LIVE UPDATES: Trump Calls For Iran To Surrender, Says The Ayatollah Is An ‘Easy Target’</a>
“The Western states go to great lengths to avoid criticism of Israel, much out of Holocaust guilt,” McCormack <a href="https://archive.ph/2025.06.17-203853/https://x.com/mick_or_mack/status/1909570169850016150" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted in April</a>.
In May, <a href="https://archive.ph/2025.06.17-203737/https://x.com/mick_or_mack/status/1926700593134915740" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he posted</a> that “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies are determined to prolong the conflict for their own goals: either to remain in power or to annex the land.”
In April 2024, <a href="https://archive.ph/2025.06.17-203813/https://x.com/mick_or_mack/status/1777077484426543148" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McCormack questioned</a> if the United States was a proxy of Israel.
“I’ve lately been considering whether we might be Israel’s proxy and not realized it yet,” he posted. “Our worst ‘ally.’ We get literally nothing out of the ‘partnership’ other than the enmity of millions of people in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.”
According to JNS, in response to a post about Gazans potentially seeking refuge outside the Gaza Strip, McCormack claimed that Israel aims “to expel them and cleanse ‘Eretz Israel’ of ethnic Palestinians.”
Before starting his role with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but while still serving as a U.S. Army officer, McCormack shared his views following Hamas’s October 7 massacre of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-had-to-act-netanyahu-reveals-why-he-struck-iran-in-first-interview-since-rising-lion-launch?author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘We+Had+to+Act’%3A+Netanyahu+Reveals+Why+He+Struck+Iran+In+First+Interview+Since+‘Rising+Lion’+Launch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israeli</a> civilians.
“I agree that Israel has an absolute right to respond militarily, and that civilians may legally be caught in the crossfire, but you are ignoring the requirement of proportionality,” McCormack <a href="https://archive.ph/2025.06.17-203744/https://x.com/mick_or_mack/status/1712058063039967375" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a>. “Israel’s responses always (always—not hyperbole) disproportionately target Palestinian civilians.”
McCormack has also disclosed details about his official duties on the account, <a href="https://archive.ph/2025.06.17-204215/https://x.com/mick_or_mack/status/1822968484378075143" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claiming in</a> August 2024 that “we” warned Israel it would be “fuxked” if it escalated into an offensive against Lebanon. Despite the warning, Israel launched an invasion two months later and decimated the terrorist group Hezbollah. He also shared information about his conversations and briefings with Israeli Defense Forces officers.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/irans-supreme-leader-responds-to-israels-attack?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Kassy+Akiva&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Iran%E2%80%99s+Supreme+Leader+Responds+To+Israel%E2%80%99s+Attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER RESPONDS TO ISRAEL’S ATTACK</a>
McCormack’s account also shared information about his movements and work trips <a href="https://archive.ph/2025.06.17-203856/https://x.com/mick_or_mack/status/1933610456154857488" target="_blank" rel="noopener">being canceled</a>, according to JNS.
On Monday, McCormack reportedly claimed the Department of Defense endorses the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry’s casualty numbers.
“Along with the World Health Organization and United Nations, we (Department of Defense, Department of State and the U.S. Intelligence Community) consider the Gaza Health Ministry figures to be generally reliable (though not precise),” he wrote, “but probably less so now than they were originally due to the general destruction and chaos in Gaza.”
The Department of Defense has strict social media guidelines, including telling service members to “avoid use of Department of Defense titles, insignia, uniforms or symbols in a way that could imply DoD sanction or endorsement of content on your personal page.”

Col. Nathan McCormack c

Pentagon Official Removed From Joint Chiefs Of Staff For Anti-Israel Posts

Department of Defense

Global Politics

Israel

Joint Chiefs of Staff

U.S.

OneRepublic singer Ryan Tedder is catching heat from his leftist fanbase for calling the “No Kings” protests over the weekend a “super bummer.”
It didn’t matter that the musician’s comments were focused on how the protests detracted from celebrating the military and were not politically motivated, according to him.
“I have around 20 family members &amp; grandparents that all fought in wars from the revolutionary war (actually) through to WWII/Korea.. all politics &amp; parties and righteous indignation aside it’s a super bummer that instead of celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US Army and all those who have fought and died on our behalf… we’re protesting,” Tedder wrote in an Instagram Story, per <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/onerepublics-ryan-tedder-thinks-its-a-super-bummer-that-people-are-protesting-trump-instead-of-celebrating-the-us-armys-250th-anniversary-3869972">NME</a>.
The band’s co-founder then clarified his position on politics.
“I haven’t been a card carrying political member of either side for 20 years &amp; think at this point everything is absurd 99% of the time…” Tedder continued. “But I’d like to say THANK YOU to all of the Army service members active and retired and those who have given their lives to protect our freedom…to protest.”
Tedder’s social media statement was in response to President Donald Trump putting on a military parade on the streets of Washington, D.C., which included 6,000 soldiers marching alongside 128 tanks to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. The military parade coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday, which prompted Saturday&#8217;s nationwide &#8220;No Kings&#8221; demonstrations. Multiple rioters were arrested near Portland’s ICE facility after that city’s “No Kings” protest turned into a violent altercation, which left several officers injured. 
MSNBC hosts noted how the vibe of the parade was fun and celebratory. “I’m just sort of surprised by the number of people who were at the front of the parade watching, cheering, and then would come and ask to take a selfie,” reporter Ali Velshi, who was on location, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-not-dark-its-not-tense-msnbc-struggles-to-accept-fun-vibe-of-army-birthday-parade?author=Virginia+Kruta&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=%E2%80%98It%E2%80%99s+Not+Dark%2C+It%E2%80%99s+Not+Tense%E2%80%99%3A+MSNBC+Struggles+To+Accept+Fun+Vibe+Of+Army+Birthday+Parade">said</a> of the event. 
“This is a very different mood here,” Velshi continued. “People seem to be going out of their way to say that they’re here to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday.”
&nbsp;

Ryan Tedder

OneRepublic Singer Blasts ‘No Kings’ Protests: ‘A Super Bummer’

OneRepublic Singer Criticizes 'No Kings' Protests: 'A Super Bummer'

Celebrities

Donald Trump

Washington D.C.

As President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — along with others in the administration — joined together to celebrate the U.S. Army&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fetterman-comes-out-as-pro-parade-as-trump-celebrates-armys-250th-birthday">250th birthday</a> on Saturday, several at MSNBC appeared to struggle with the fact that the overall vibe on the ground was less fraught and more fun.
Host Chris Hayes compared the scene to typical Trump rallies — which he claimed could be &#8220;very tense&#8221; and sometimes had a &#8220;dark, malevolent energy&#8221; — and then seemed genuinely surprised to note that the scene playing out at the National Mall had a very different feel.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Over at MSNBC, they&#8217;re almost SHOCKED the celebration of the U.S. Army&#8217;s 250th birthday isn&#8217;t &#8220;tense&#8221; and doesn&#8217;t have &#8220;dark, malevolent energy.&#8221;
These people&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/ZO0fxWohsI">pic.twitter.com/ZO0fxWohsI</a>
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1934045299359580548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;One thing I will say — I want to go back to you, Ali, again, when we talk about the sort of tension in the country,&#8221; Hayes began. &#8220;And sometimes, you know, you and I have both been at Trump rallies, those can be, you know, very tense, a kind of — I would say a kind of dark, malevolent energy sometimes in them. Not always, but it doesn&#8217;t seem like that&#8217;s the energy on the Mall today, which I think is a good sign, right?&#8221;
&#8220;Correct,&#8221; Ali Velshi — who was on location — replied. &#8220;You&#8217;re — you&#8217;re really correct about that, Chris, and it&#8217;s something that we — that we were watching for. I&#8217;m just sort of surprised by the number of people who were at the front of the parade watching, cheering, and then would come and ask to take a selfie.&#8221;
&#8220;This is a very different mood here,&#8221; Velshi continued. &#8220;People seem to be going out of their way to say that they&#8217;re here to celebrate the Army&#8217;s 250th birthday.&#8221;
He said he&#8217;d seen one guy carrying a sign that said, &#8220;TRUMP 2028,&#8221; but that most people were not bringing politics into the celebration.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not dark. It&#8217;s not tense,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s different.&#8221;

US-Army-250th-Celebration

‘It’s Not Dark, It’s Not Tense’: MSNBC Struggles To Accept Fun Vibe Of Army Birthday Parade

'It's Not Dark, It's Not Tense': MSNBC Struggles To Accept Fun Vibe Of Army Birthday Parade

Media

Military parade

MSNBC

President Donald Trump presided over a swearing-in ceremony for dozens of new recruits and re-enlisting soldiers at a Saturday evening parade celebrating the U.S. Army&#8217;s 250th birthday.
In the United States Army, such ceremonies are typically conducted by commissioned officers or warrant officers – but that is not always the case. When Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer reenlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve after a 15-year break in service, it was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who conducted his swearing-in ceremony. And as the sitting Commander in Chief, President Donald Trump took the opportunity to conduct the ceremony that took place on Saturday.
&#8220;Special moment as Soldiers renew their oath to serve and future Soldiers take the oath led by the Commander-in-Chief @POTUS #Army250 birthday parade,&#8221; the U.S. Army shared video of the ceremony.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Special moment as Soldiers renew their oath to serve and future Soldiers take the oath led by the Commander-in-Chief <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Army250?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Army250</a> birthday parade. <a href="https://t.co/fSeVYPtfGK">https://t.co/fSeVYPtfGK</a>
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/USArmy/status/1934042410683679201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Mr. President, 1st Sergeant Norton, reporting for duty, Sir. Ready to commence the ceremony as directed,&#8221; a 1st Sergeant wearing a 101st Airborne patch said as he turned the ceremony over to the president, and he administered the oath of enlistment.
<blockquote>&#8220;I, _____ , do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.&#8221;</blockquote>
&#8220;Congratulations!&#8221; Trump said as the soldiers completed the oath. &#8220;Congratulations. And welcome to the United States Army and have a great life! Thank you very much, have a great life. Thank you.&#8221;
&#8220;Welcome to the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. Make us proud,&#8221; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted along with video from the ceremony.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Welcome to the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen.
Make us proud. <a href="https://t.co/GUkshbzM2U">https://t.co/GUkshbzM2U</a>
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1934045021126144442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

US-MILITARY-ARMY-ANNIVERSARY-PARADE

President Trump Conducts Swearing-In For New And Re-Enlisting Soldiers At Army Birthday Parade

Pete Hegseth

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) came out as firmly pro-parade as many elected Democrats and media talking heads panned the planned parade that took place on Saturday celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.
Fetterman shared a post from the Army&#8217;s official account showing the parade in real time, and added the following caption: &#8220;This parade is comprised of our sons, daughters, mothers and fathers—the very best of us. Regardless of your politics, it’s appropriate to celebrate the 250 years of sacrifice, dedication and service.&#8221;
The Pennsylvania Senator followed that with an American flag emoji.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This parade is comprised of our sons, daughters, mothers and fathers—the very best of us.
Regardless of your politics, it’s appropriate to celebrate the 250 years of sacrifice, dedication and service. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/YghyZkK2JS">https://t.co/YghyZkK2JS</a>
— U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1934022160068092021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;It’s really amazing that there’s only one Democratic senator capable of hitting a layup,&#8221; Peter Hasson commented.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It’s really amazing that there’s only one Democratic senator capable of hitting a layup <a href="https://t.co/h23KYsMrxJ">https://t.co/h23KYsMrxJ</a>
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) <a href="https://twitter.com/peterjhasson/status/1934029480642957519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Being for the Army is the lowest bar in US politics &#8230; Only ONE Democratic Senator could get over it &#8230;&#8221; Andrew Follett added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Being for the Army is the lowest bar in US politics&#8230;
Only ONE Democratic Senator could get over it&#8230; <a href="https://t.co/TNin52e0Gg">https://t.co/TNin52e0Gg</a>
— Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewCFollett/status/1934030472872444049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;He&#8217;s so getting kicked out of the Democrat party!&#8221; another posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
He&#8217;s so getting kicked out of the Democrat party! <a href="https://t.co/XERqnsjSPF">https://t.co/XERqnsjSPF</a>
— Rich Zeoli 🇺🇸 (@Richzeoli) <a href="https://twitter.com/Richzeoli/status/1934023575113171124?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Critics, like the cohosts of ABC&#8217;s &#8220;The View,&#8221; attempted to spin the parade as a birthday celebration to honor President Trump — who happened to celebrate his 79th birthday on June 14th as well — and complained that the image of soldiers marching by in their uniforms would look like something out of North Korea, Russia, or Europe in the 1930s.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
&#8220;Tanks will be rolling through the nation&#8217;s capital along with 7,000 marching soldiers to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army &#8230; and it happens to be his 79th birthday, what a coincidence!&#8221; Joy Behar complained.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The View&#8217;s Sara Haines HATES America&#8217;s troops. She says they&#8217;re going tot look like Nazis and North Koreans marching through DC: 
&#8220;When I think of military parades, I think of Russia, I think of North Korea. I have these visuals of people saluting and doing things and that&#8217;s just… <a href="https://t.co/MO6b1rbwkM">pic.twitter.com/MO6b1rbwkM</a>
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickFondacaro/status/1933544870355898463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;When I think of military parades, I think of Russia, I think of North Korea. I have these visuals of people saluting and doing things and that&#8217;s just not what I think of when I think of the U.S. &#8230; a parade that harkens World War II propaganda&#8230;&#8221; Sara Haines added.

Challenges in Preserving the U.S. Housing Stock

Fetterman Comes Out As Pro-Parade As Trump Celebrates Army’s 250th Birthday

John Fetterman

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth celebrated the 250th birthday of the United States Army on Saturday, telling his former colleagues at &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends: Weekend&#8221; that without the creation of a cohesive fighting force in 1775, the events that followed in 1776 would not have been possible.
Hegseth raised the point in defense of President Donald Trump&#8217;s plan to host a parade in Washington, D.C., celebrating Flag Day and the Army&#8217;s 250th birthday.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> “There is no 1776 without 1775.” 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 <a href="https://t.co/i4aqTjdvYF">pic.twitter.com/i4aqTjdvYF</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1933885942831489044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;It&#8217;s because of strong men and women who stand up and are willing to fight for it,&#8221; Hegseth began. &#8220;There is no 1776 without 1775, and that&#8217;s why the president is right to celebrate it today. The haters can hate, let &#8217;em. We don&#8217;t care. This is celebrating 25o years of freedom and strength.&#8221;
&#8220;Do you know why I joined the military in large part?&#8221; Hegseth asked then. &#8220;Because of a parade that went down Main Street of Wanamingo, Minnesota — in southern Minnesota — that, as a young kid, my parents used to take me to and I would see the dozen vets walking down the street. And I&#8217;d look up and say, &#8216;Man, look at what they did. Maybe someday I could do that.'&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
&#8220;You know, imagine the effect of the American people seeing the hardware and the men and women, and the parades of who we are and how we defend freedom — we believe that will motivate. We believe that supports recruitment. That supports morale. That supports the general sense and the feeling that President Trump talks about all the time that America&#8217;s back! And we&#8217;re here to stay. And our allies know that and our enemies are on notice.&#8221;
The U.S. Army also posted a video celebrating the milestone, saying that the service branch&#8217;s mission — even 250 years later — was still the same, and could be boiled down to just three words: &#8220;This we&#8217;ll defend.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After 250 years, it still comes down to three words.
THIS. WE&#8217;LL. DEFEND. 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Army250?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Army250</a> <a href="https://t.co/4V3faxVa96">pic.twitter.com/4V3faxVa96</a>
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/USArmy/status/1933856987604734186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

President Trump Holds “Make America Wealthy Again Event” In White House Rose Garden

Pete Hegseth Celebrates The U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday: ‘There Is No 1776 Without 1775’

Pete Hegseth Celebrates The U.S. Army's 250th Birthday: 'There Is No 1776 Without 1775'

1776

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he was restoring the names of Army forts changed during the Biden administration because of their connections to Confederate military leaders. 
Trump made the announcement during a speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina during a celebration of the 250th birthday of the Army. Like the Trump administration’s previous moves to restore the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, the forts will now be linked to different soldiers with the same last names as the original Confederate namesakes. 
“For a little breaking news, we are also going to be restoring the names to Fort Pickett, Fort Hood, Fort Gordon, Fort Rucker, Fort Polk, Fort A.P. Hill, and Fort Robert E. Lee,” Trump said during his speech. “We won a lot of battles out of those forts, it&#8217;s no time to change. And I’m superstitious, I like to keep it going.” 
After Trump’s announcement, the Army <a href="https://www.army.mil/article/286223/army_to_change_names_of_seven_installations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> it would “take all necessary actions to change the names of seven Army installations in honor of heroic Soldiers who served in conflicts ranging from the Civil War to the Battle of Mogadishu.”
The Army added that five of the forts would be renamed for soldiers who received the Medal of Honor, three who earned the Distinguished Service Cross, and one who was awarded the Silver Star. 
In a release, the Army laid out the restoration of the original names and the new soldiers they were honoring:
<ul>
<li>Fort Barfoot in Virginia will revert to Fort Pickett and be named after 1st Lt. Vernon W. Pickett, a World War II soldier who received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions to destroy two enemy positions with grenades after crawling through enemy fire. The fort’s original namesake was Confederate Major General George Pickett, a veteran of the Mexican-American War who is most known for his bloody charge at Gettysburg.</li>
<li>Fort Cavazos in Texas will revert to Fort Hood and be named for Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I soldier who earned the Distinguished Service Cross for actions in France. It was originally named after Confederate Lt. General John Bell Hood, who fought at a number of major Civil War battles, including Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Atlanta, and Nashville. </li>
<li>Fort Eisenhower in Georgia will revert to Fort Gordon and will be named after Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, who won the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. The fort&#8217;s original namesake was Confederate Major General John Brown Gordon, who served under Robert E. Lee and later became governor and senator for Georgia. </li>
<li>Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia will return to Fort Lee to be named after Spanish-American War hero <a href="https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/fitz-lee">Pvt. Fitz Lee</a>, who earned the Medal of Honor after rescuing wounded comrades from the battlefield under fire. The fort was previously named after Robert E. Lee, the legendary commander of the Army of Northern Virginia who won major victories at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.</li>
<li>In Louisiana, Fort Johnson will revert to Fort Polk to be named in honor of World War II hero and Silver Star recipient Gen. James H. Polk. The fort was first named after Confederate Lt. General Leonidas Polk, an Episcopal bishop who was killed in 1864 during fighting at Pine Mountain outside Atlanta. </li>
<li>Fort Novosel in Alabama will revert to Fort Rucker in honor of World War I aviator Capt. Edward W. Rucker, a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. The original namesake was Confederate Colonel Edmund Rucker, who fought throughout Tennessee and Alabama.</li>
<li>Finally, Fort Walker will be restored to Fort A.P. Hill to be named after three Civil War soldiers —  Lt. Col. Edward Hill, 1st Sgt. Robert A. Pinn and Pvt. Bruce Anderson. The original name&#8217;s sake was Confederate Lt. General A.P. Hill, a Virginian who was killed during the battle of Petersburg in 1865. </li>
</ul>
The forts&#8217; names had been changed thanks to a naming commission authorized by Congress that directed any references to the Confederacy be removed from federal property. In addition to changing the names of forts, this also led to the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-stops-removal-of-civil-war-memorial-from-arlington-national-cemetery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removal</a> of the Confederate Reconciliation Monument in Arlington National Cemetery.

President Trump Holds Military Celebration At Fort Bragg

Trump Restores Names Of Army Forts Changed By Biden

Biden Administration

Confederacy

Executive

Military Bases

The crowd of U.S. Army soldiers at North Carolina&#8217;s Fort Bragg roared their response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as he trashed the &#8220;woke garbage&#8221; that he&#8217;s promised to root out and remove from the American military.
Hegseth, fresh off his testimony before the House Appropriations Committee earlier in the day on Tuesday, joined President Donald Trump at Fort Bragg to honor the U.S. Army&#8217;s 250th birthday. Hegseth repeated some of the same priorities and goals he&#8217;d laid out on Capitol Hill — and the soldiers voiced their apparent approval in loud cheers.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> &#8220;Standards, accountability, readiness, training, war fighting, lethality.
We’re not a college or university.
We’re not interested in your WOKE GARBAGE or your POLITCIAL CORRECTNESS.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/HHxcwaxm5D">pic.twitter.com/HHxcwaxm5D</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1932535880113393960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;So at the Defense Department, we&#8217;re doing three critical things at [President Trump&#8217;s] direction,&#8221; Hegseth began. &#8220;Number one, we&#8217;re restoring the Warrior Ethos.&#8221;
A few shouts could be heard from the crowd: &#8220;Yeah!!&#8221;
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
&#8220;We&#8217;re getting back to basics,&#8221; Hegseth said, laughing a little at the outbursts, and then louder cheers followed.
&#8220;Standards, accountability, readiness, training, war fighting, lethality. We’re not a college or university. We’re not interested in your woke garbage or your political correctness,&#8221; he said &#8212; and the crowd erupted in wild cheers and applause.
President Trump also spoke to the troops — and got a few laughs himself when he mocked former President Joe Biden for changing the name of the base.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
. <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> &#8220;It’s a beautiful sight to be with you in a place called Fort Bragg.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/bf8NgT4MK2">pic.twitter.com/bf8NgT4MK2</a>
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1932538609636376884?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;It’s a beautiful sight to be with you in a place called Fort &#8230; Bragg,&#8221; Trump said, his tone dropping as he emphasized the last word, prompting raucous cheers and applause.
&#8220;Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?&#8221; Trump asked when the cheers died down, and loud boos from the crowd quickly followed. &#8220;But we — we&#8217;ll forget all about that, won&#8217;t we? We&#8217;re gonna forget all about it.&#8221;

President Trump Visits Fort Bragg To Honor U.S. Forces

Hegseth Trashes ‘Woke Garbage’ In Fort Bragg Speech, And Soldiers Roar Their Response

Joe Biden

North Carolina

A new memo from the U.S. Army asserts that transgender soldiers’ birth records will now only show their sex at birth.
“Commanders will take immediate measures to update personnel records and administrative systems to reflect biological sex for all individuals,” the memo declares, adding that pronoun use “must reflect their biological sex,” Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-army-change-transgender-soldiers-records-birth-sex-2025-05-21/#:~:text=There%20are%204%2C240%20U.S.%20active,advocates%20have%20given%20higher%20estimates." target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. The memo avers that a person’s sex is “unchanging during a person’s life,” echoing a February 26 Defense Department <a href="https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Spotlight/2025/Guidance_For_Federal_Policies/Prioritizing_Military_Excellence_and_Readiness_P&amp;R_Guidance.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">memo</a> that stated, “The Department only recognizes two sexes: male and female. An individual’s sex is immutable, unchanging during a person’s life. All Service members will only serve in accordance with their sex.”
Access to “intimate spaces” will be determined by the biological sex of the soldier; “Commanders will ensure all such shared intimate spaces will be clearly designated for either male, female, or family use,” the document stated. Additionally, commanders must address troops as “sir” or “ma’am.”
<a class="c-link" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=memorial&amp;utm_content=editorialmemorialday" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Memorial Day Sale – Get 40% Off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
On May 6, the Supreme Court stayed an order from U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Washington state, who issued an injunction barring the Trump administration from prohibiting transgender people in the military. President Biden had signed an executive order that permitted transgender soldiers to serve openly in the military, but the day President Trump was inaugurated in 2025, he revoked the order and issued another executive order days later, instructing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to ban “individuals with gender dysphoria” from the military. DOD issued the ban on February 26.
Navy Commander Emily Shilling, a man identifying as a woman, had challenged Trump’s executive order, filing a federal lawsuit. A district court in Washington state then barred Trump’s executive order. But the Supreme Court stayed the order. “The district court’s injunction cannot be squared with the substantial deference that the Department’s professional military judgments are owed,” Trump’s DOJ <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24A1030/356382/20250424102154372_Emily_Shilling_et_al_application.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “In suggesting that experience under the policies of the last Administration shows that service by individuals with gender dysphoria does not present meaningful risks &#8230; the court improperly second-guessed the military’s own assessment of those risks.”

US-PERU-DIPLOMACY-DEFENCE

U.S. Army Will Alter Troops’ Birth Records To Only Show Their Sex At Birth

Supreme Court

Transgender

Today is Armed Forces Day, an occasion to express gratitude and respect for those men and women making the sacrifice to serve our country in uniform. This year, I can think of no better way to honor their commitment to duty than to give those reentering civilian life a shot at gainful employment.
Few people truly understand how hard it is to transition out of the military. In uniform, your mission is clear. Your role is defined. You live with structure, purpose, and a sense of belonging. But when service ends, the system that trained you offers little preparation for what comes next.
Sadly, this transition is often treated like a final administrative task rather than the critical life shift it truly is. You get a checklist, a few briefings, and a polite nod toward civilian life. But those things do not prepare you for the deeper shift — how to rebuild your purpose, your identity, and your worth in a world that operates differently.
When the structure and rhythm of military life disappear, veterans are suddenly confronted with a vacuum. The transition programs that are supposed to help prove unproductive because they are still led by people who don’t understand what it takes to succeed after service.
Our servicemen and women get stuck with outdated processes that are heavy on structure and light on relevance, leaving them unprepared for today’s fast-moving economy. If we continue with this approach,  we will keep losing people after the fight is over.
And it isn’t just veterans who are suffering. The economy is feeling the strain as well.
Industries from tech to logistics to healthcare are scrambling to find people who can build teams, make decisions, and lead under pressure. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to find qualified candidates, only to be disappointed because they don’t have the grit and follow-through to overcome the challenges faced by today’s organizations.
Hiring managers complain that new workers are entitled, lazy, and don’t take initiative. They say they’re tired of seeing the same resumes and hiring employees who don’t move the needle. But they overlook the group that can address these problems and more: veterans.
Veterans have developed leadership skills, adaptability, and mission-driven focus through years of training and real-world experience. Simply by enlisting, they demonstrated that they are willing to work for something bigger than themselves and make the sacrifices necessary to achieve it.
I have seen how the military trains men and women to lead, build teams, persevere, and thrive under pressure — traits companies claim to need. Yet too often, there is a disconnect. Too often, veterans are overlooked because they do not have the “experience” or necessary qualifications.
These things are undoubtedly important, but should not be the only consideration. When they are, two catastrophic things happen: companies miss out on thousands of uniquely qualified candidates, and veterans are left to suffer.
What could be a wonderful partnership becomes another statistic of veteran unemployment and corporate leadership struggles.
It&#8217;s not that veterans are not capable or that companies don&#8217;t care. The system was simply not built to align the two sides properly.
But that just isn’t good enough for our economy — or our veterans.
We need a new way forward, one that recognizes the immense, ever-changing challenges today’s organizations face while simultaneously valuing the skills veterans have developed through their service — even if they don’t show up on the job experience section in a resume.
It’s time for companies to consider veterans&#8217; unique skills and experiences. They might be exactly what the economy needs because, right now, America isn’t short on workers — it’s short on leaders.
Translating that experience into civilian terms is not simple. But it is possible.
For me, education was part of that process. I chose to study at Pepperdine University, where I was challenged to think differently, expand my leadership skills beyond the military, and see the civilian world not as foreign ground but as a new mission to master.
These years reminded me that growth does not stop when the uniform comes off. It simply changes form, morphing into another kind of challenge. And it&#8217;s one I believe veterans are perfectly suited to meet.
The solution, however,  isn’t more hiring initiatives, which soon become quotas and occasions for empty virtue signaling. Instead, we need deliberate pathways that match veterans’ capabilities and values with organizations willing to put leadership potential to work.
It is not about charity. It’s about putting proven leadership where it belongs — in the fight, making an impact. This can and does lead to real careers, authentic leadership, and incredible results.
If you are serious about building a team that can survive and thrive in the real world, stop overlooking veterans. We don&#8217;t need favors. We need opportunities. And the world needs what we have to offer. So this Armed Forces Day, America’s companies can show their gratitude by trusting those who have already proven they can lead.
Kenny Spratt is the founder and CEO of TalentBase, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in connecting highly-skilled veterans to meaningful career opportunities across the private sector.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Army’s New Pre-Basic Training Prep Course Helps Potential Soldiers Qualify For Enlistment

American Companies Should Stop Overlooking Veterans

Department of Veterans Affairs

Employers

Veterans

Menu