An Army drill sergeant is under investigation after a video surfaced showing soldiers performing physical exercises beneath a political banner supporting former President Donald Trump.
Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell allegedly posted the video, which featured trainees doing pushups and burpees under a flag that read, “This is Ultra MAGA Country,” while stationed at a military base in Georgia.
The original video was posted to the now-deleted TikTok account @11chuckduece. A second video was later re-uploaded with the caption, “Cry about it,” before that account also disappeared.
Mitchell currently serves as an infantry drill sergeant with B Company, 2-19th Infantry Battalion, 198th Infantry Training Brigade, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. His current status during the investigation has not been disclosed.
The U.S. Army prohibits partisan political displays and has rules governing political activity on federal property and in uniform. According to Military.com, the video violated multiple military regulations.
Army spokesperson Jennifer Gunn emphasized in a statement that the military is an apolitical organization and confirmed that the incident would be reviewed in accordance with regulations, per the Daily Mail.
Joe Cole, Garrison Public Affairs Director, confirmed to Law & Crime that the investigation could be lengthy and that the Army is