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Facebook posts
Facebook posts
stated on October 4, 2023 in a Facebook post:

“Trump controls U.S. military.”

Pants on Fire!

Former President Donald Trump doesn’t control the military, but not everyone believes it

If your time is short

  • Former President Donald Trump doesn’t control the military.
See the sources for this fact-check

Although Donald Trump is a former president and aspiring to a second term, he doesn’t control the U.S. military, as a recent Facebook post claims. 

“Trump controls US military!” the Oct. 4 post says. 

It was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

The post’s 33-minute video provides no credible evidence to support this claim. Perhaps because there is none. 

Rather, it’s a montage of clips including unrelated Fox News broadcasts, TikTok videos and social media posts.

President Joe Biden is commander in chief of the U.S. armed forces, giving him authority to make decisions affecting each of the military branches. But, as the bipartisan Stennis Center for Public Service points out, the Constitution also gives Congress power to oversee the military. 

Someone who doesn’t wield such control? Trump. 

We rate this claim Pants on Fire!

 
Our Sources

Facebook post, Oct. 4, 2023

Stennis Center for Public Service, Military Power And Congress, visited Oct. 4, 2023

 

Former President Donald Trump doesn’t control the military, but not everyone believes it

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on January 7, 2026 a press briefing

stated on January 14, 2026 a statement

Social Media
stated on February 14, 2026 social media posts



stated on January 20, 2026 an op-ed


Donald Trump
stated on February 3, 2026 remarks in the Oval Office


Social Media
stated on February 8, 2026 social media posts





Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
stated on stated on November 17, 2025 in remarks at George Washington University:

Donald Trump
stated on February 2, 2026 an interview with Dan Bongino