In anticipation of Donald Trump's return to the White House, analysts, including ours, are wasting no time in assessing his priorities upon assuming office. While much attention has focused on Trump's repeated, high-profile pledges to implement tariffs, curb immigration and make other major policy moves, a comparatively less scrutinized area is Trump's plan for the U.S. military. On Nov. 12, The Wall Street Journal published a major scoop indicating that Trump's transition team is considering a draft executive order that would create a "warrior board" of retired senior military officers. These individuals would be empowered to review the upper echelon of admirals and generals and recommend the removal of those determined to be "lacking in requisite leadership qualities," which is apparently undefined in the draft executive order. It is unclear whether the transition team will formally present this order to Trump, if he would sign it as-is or an amended...
