FORT BRAGG — A recent incident at Fort Bragg has raised eyebrows after a vendor offered political gear during President Donald Trump’s visit for the Army’s 250th birthday on June 10. It turns out this vendor skipped the crucial step of obtaining approval beforehand, according to Lt. Col. Anderson from the 18th Airborne Corps, who shared this info on July 21.
Anderson pointed out, “A vendor sold private merchandise on Fort Bragg without adhering to installation policy.” This policy mandates that any sales must get the go-ahead from either the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (DFMWR) or the Army & Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES).
He further explained the importance of this rule: “This policy guarantees that products sold on the base are in line with Army Values, protect our community members, and maintain the integrity of our installation.” Following a formal review of the situation, it became clear that there was a need to enhance communication surrounding the existing guidelines for vendors.
“We’re planning to include a clear banner on Fort Bragg’s visitor registration website to guide vendors toward DFMWR or AAFES, and make sure our access control staff has an updated list of approved vendors,” stated Anderson. These steps are expected to help in sticking to Army policies in the future and avoiding issues like this one.
Various military-themed social media accounts and military.com showed that items like MAGA necklaces and hats found their way into the sale, even featuring a card proclaiming, “White privilege card Trumps everything”—with a link to the creator of the card, who identifies as Black.
Owner of the card, Joel Patrick, explained in a July 2023 social media video that he created it to poke fun at the concept of white privilege and to challenge critical race theory. “I don’t believe that white people are born racist and need to unlearn their racism; I’ve been making content against all types of racism since 2018,” he expressed.
As of now, military representatives haven’t disclosed the complete inventory of items sold, and some online community members have speculated about the possibility of image manipulation concerning the items in question.
Fort Bragg officials have confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway.
During a June 12 review of the 2026 defense budget proposals, Senator Pat Ryan from New York raised concerns with Gen. Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about the implications of the merchandise sales during Trump’s visit. “It was a deeply unsettling episode, seeing MAGA gear being sold on posted grounds. A local commander even declared this week a ‘bad week for the Army.’ This occurrence is rather disgraceful for anyone who values our neutral stance as an institution,” Ryan noted.
For further insights, contact staff writer Rachael Riley at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article was originally published in The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg’s Action After MAGA Merchandise Sold During Trump’s Visit
