Fact Check: Is Donald Trump planning to wear a custom military uniform?

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral image circulating on social media claimed that President Donald Trump was considering wearing a custom military uniform, citing his role as Commander-in-Chief.

The supposed “news report,” attributed to Politico, sparked heated debate, ridicule, and political commentary online.

Claim: Donald Trump plans to wear a custom military uniform as Commander-in-Chief

The claim centered on a screenshot styled to look like a legitimate Politico article. According to the image, President Trump was allegedly considering wearing a custom-designed military uniform, justifying it with his constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief of the US armed forces.

The post listed two supposed Politico reporters—Quinn Jackson and Maya Ozery—and quoted unnamed White House insiders. It quickly went viral, prompting thousands of comments and reactions.

Some users questioned whether the report was authentic, while others accepted it at face value and criticized Trump without verifying the source.

Among the reactions were harsh remarks mocking Trump’s lack of military service. Others framed the alleged move as authoritarian. “A weak man’s idea of strength. Nothing but a tin pot dictator,” one post read, adding that Trump “wouldn’t last one day of boot camp.”

Despite the intensity of the debate, the image raised red flags almost immediately for users familiar with how major news organizations publish and verify stories.

Fact Check: The claim is false and based on a fabricated image

There is no credible evidence that President Donald Trump planned to wear a custom military uniform. A review of Politico’s official website showed no such article published under that headline or any similar reporting.

Additionally, the reporters named in the viral image—Quinn Jackson and Maya Ozery—are not listed as staff writers, contributors, or freelancers on Politico’s masthead. Searches across Politico’s archives and other reputable news databases returned no results connected to the alleged story.

There has also been no confirmation from the White House, no public statement from Trump, and no reporting by any mainstream or credible outlet suggesting such a plan was under consideration.

Experts familiar with media verification noted that the image bore several hallmarks of fabrication, including inconsistent formatting and language that did not align with Politico’s editorial style.

Based on these findings, the image appears to have been generated using AI tools or simple image-editing software and falsely attributed to Politico to lend it legitimacy.

Commander-in-Chief role and military uniforms

While the President of the United States serves as Commander-in-Chief, the role is civilian, not military. Historically, US presidents do not wear military uniforms unless they previously served and are appearing in a ceremonial or commemorative capacity tied to that service.

Legal and constitutional scholars have emphasized that civilian control of the military is a cornerstone of American democracy. The distinction between elected leadership and military command is intentional, meant to prevent the militarization of political power.

Trump, who did not serve in the military, has occasionally worn patriotic or military-themed apparel at rallies and events, but there is no precedent or serious proposal for a sitting US president to don a formal military uniform purely by virtue of holding office.

In recent years, fabricated political images and AI-generated “news” have become increasingly common online, often designed to provoke outrage, reinforce existing biases, or generate viral engagement before being questioned.