Even some Republicans are starting to turn against Pete Hegseth
Around this time six years ago, Donald Trump, to the delight of the Kremlin, announced dramatic cuts to U.S. troop deployments in Germany, blindsiding the Pentagon and much of his own team, after then-Chancellor Angela Merkel hurt his feelings and following chats with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
The Republican president did not, however, immediately follow through on his own decision. By the time the administration took steps to implement his plan, he lost his 2020 re-election bid, and Joe Biden wasted little time in scrapping his predecessor’s plan.
This month, history repeated itself: After incumbent German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hurt Trump’s feelings, the Republican again announced cuts to U.S. troop deployments in Germany, again blindsiding the Pentagon, and again after a conversation with Putin. This time, however, the policy is actually advancing.
Last week, as The Associated Press reported, the Defense Department confirmed it’s drawing down thousands of troops in Europe by canceling deployments to Poland and Germany as opposed to yanking forces already stationed there.
Late last week, a variety of congressional Republicans, including Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, publicly and explicitly condemned the move in no uncertain terms.
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Steve Benen is a producer for “The Rachel Maddow Show,” the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He’s also the bestselling author of “Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans’ War on the Recent Past.”
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