US Army investigates uniformed soldiers who appeared in video at Democratic convention

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military said on Wednesday it was investigating two soldiers who appeared in uniform behind deputies in a video shown during the virtual Democratic National Convention.

It apparently renewed questions about the politicization of the army in the run-up to the November presidential election.

During Tuesday’s virtual call, each state and territory used a background that was symbolic of them. The two delegates from American Samoa – who have the highest rate of military enlistment in the United States – appeared before two U.S. Army reservists in uniform.

“Wearing a uniform at a partisan political event such as this is prohibited,” the army said in a statement.

“The Army follows the long-standing and well-defined policy of the Department of Defense’s policy campaigns and elections to prevent the perception of DoD sponsorship, approval or endorsement of any political candidate, campaign or cause,” it added.

Xochitl Hinojosa, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, said it was an “oversight.”

There have been growing concerns about the politicization of the military by President Donald Trump.

Those concerns came to a head last month after Trump threatened to deploy active-duty troops to quell civil unrest in U.S. cities during protests over racism and police brutality.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has also drawn the army into the campaign, saying in June that he was worried that Trump would try to steal the ‘November election’, but he was sure soldiers would escort Trump out of the White House. will if he loses and the recognition does not recognize result.