Former Air Force Secretary Kendall Criticizes Military Politicization Under Trump Administration
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III stated he could not have served in the Trump administration, criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for what he described as an unprecedented attempt to politicize the military. The comments were made on ABC's…
South Bend Elkhart, IN, September 6, 2026 —
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III indicated he would not have been able to serve in the Trump administration, citing concerns over the perceived politicization of the military. Kendall made these remarks during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” He specifically criticized actions attributed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, describing them as an “unprecedented attempt to politicize the military.” The specific context or timeline of these alleged attempts by Hegseth was not detailed in the statement made by Kendall.
Kendall’s comments suggest a fundamental disagreement with the approach taken by the Trump administration regarding the military’s role and its interaction with political spheres. The former secretary did not elaborate on the precise nature of Hegseth’s alleged actions that led to this strong criticism, nor did he provide specific examples of how the military might have been politicized. The timeframe of Kendall’s potential service, had he been offered a position, was also not specified.
The assertion that Hegseth engaged in an “unprecedented attempt to politicize the military” highlights a significant concern regarding the separation between military leadership and political influence. However, further details regarding the events or policies that prompted Kendall’s statement were not provided. The conversation on “This Week” focused on these critical observations from the former Air Force Secretary.
Story summarized from the original created by Max Rego on thehill.com, see more information here.
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