1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

President Trump's decision to directly interview candidates for four-star general positions represents a troubling break from established norms and traditions within the U.S. military. The role of the commander-in-chief should not extend to vetting and selecting top military leaders based on perceived loyalty or political considerations. The military's commitment to remaining apolitical and promoting officers purely on merit is essential to maintaining its effectiveness and the trust of the American people. Injecting partisan politics into the promotion process for the highest ranks threatens to undermine the principle of civilian control over the military. It raises concerns about the politicization of the armed forces and the erosion of democratic values. While the president has the authority to make such appointments, this practice risks creating a precedent where top generals are chosen not for their battlefield experience or leadership abilities, but based on political allegiances. This could compromise the military's operational readiness and its ability to provide impartial advice to the commander-in-chief. The time-honored tradition of maintaining a strict separation between military leadership and partisan politics has served the nation well. Any efforts to circumvent normal protocols for the sake of exerting greater political control over the military brass should be firmly resisted to uphold the core principles of civilian-military relations.