The new Trump administration is still filling key positions and replacing Biden appointees with people who actually know what they’re doing. That’s a thoroughly good thing, but in the process, President-elect Trump is also providing some justice for some people who were unjustly separated from the armed forces. People like former Space Force (LTC) Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lohmeier, who was fired after criticizing the Space Force’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) policies. LTC Lohmeier will serve the Trump administration as Undersecretary of the Air Force.
President-elect Trump announced Friday that Matthew Lohmeier will serve as undersecretary of the Air Force.
“Matt is a former fighter pilot and Space Force Squadron Commander who dedicated his life to serving our great nation,” Trump wrote a Truth Social post. “He is a proud graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.”
In 2021 it was Lohmeier fired from the Space Force, where he served as a lieutenant colonel, after criticizing the U.S. military on a conservative podcast. Lohmeier joined “The Steve Gruber Show” to discuss his book, “Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military,” which argues that Marxist beliefs have become increasingly common in the military. In the same appearance, he also called the New York Times’ 1619 Project “anti-American.”
Keep in mind that there are certain restrictions on busy military members appearing in uniform at political events, but military members do not waive their First Amendment rights, and appearing on a podcast to promote a book is not permitted prohibited activity.
Lohmeier’s firing sparked a acute reaction from Republican lawmakers at the time, The Hill reported in its article linked above:
At that time, the Ministry of Defense stated that the reason for his dismissal was that it had “lost trust” in Lohmeier. His removal from office was met with outrage from Republican lawmakers, including the former representative. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who called the department’s move “retaliatory.”
On Friday, Trump wrote that in his new role, Lohmeier will work to “end the devastating ‘woke’ policies that have destroyed our military and make our country STRONG AGAIN.”
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In fact, President Trump promises LTC Lohmeier an additional task that goes beyond his duties as Under Secretary of the Air Force:
Meet Matthew Lohmeier. He was forced out of his command in the Space Force for questioning DEI. Today, President Trump named him Under Secretary of the Air Force.
DEI will DIE in the US military very soon!pic.twitter.com/J3mMEBZiZC
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 18, 2025
LTC Lohmeier was an F-15 pilot before joining the Space Force. Before his discharge, he was a Space Force Squadron commander (roughly the equivalent of a battalion commander in the Army or Marine Corps).
The demise of DEI programs was a key campaign issue for the president-elect leading up to the election, and he took steps to exclude DEI programs from national government even before he took office. But eliminating these idiotic policies in the Defense Department is even more essential than in the government as a whole. Such preferential treatment and promotion decisions based on anything other than warfighting capability should not and must not be tolerated. The purpose of our country’s armed forces is and remains to close in and destroy the enemy through fire, maneuver and shock. Anything that furthers this mission is good. Anything that hinders it is bad.
LTC Lohmeier’s country is once again serving him right. Expect him to return the favor by helping root out and eliminate DEI stupidity in the Department of Defense by any means possible.
