The President’s Inbox Civil-Military Relations Under Trump, With Kori Schake
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Oct 14, 2025 Kori Schake, a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of *The State and the Soldier*, delves into civil-military relations during the Trump administration. She explains the historical aversion to military coups in the U.S. and discusses the importance of civilian control, referencing George Washington's foundational role. Schake warns against politicization risks and highlights how public perception of the military can be compromised by partisan displays. Additionally, she examines the implications of domestic troop deployment and the impact of retired officers' political commentary on public trust.
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Why The U.S. Military Stayed Subordinate
- The U.S. avoided military takeover for many reasons including founders' fears, constitutional power distribution, and frontier dynamics.
- Civilian oversight arose from multivariate historical forces rather than a single cause.
Washington's Foundational Example
- George Washington modeled civilian control by accepting civilian-set objectives and limited resources.
- He practiced mission command, delegating execution while upholding civilian strategic authority.
Grant's Constitutional Dilemma
- Ulysses S. Grant faced a constitutional crisis balancing presidential and congressional authority over the military after Lincoln's assassination.
- Grant chose Congress's supremacy in peacetime, shaping modern civil-military norms.
