US Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith participates in a Q&A session at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, in October 2026. At this event, a Marine asked a political question about US support for Israel, which may have been prohibited “political activity” under USMC regulations. (US Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Christian Cutter)
A US Marine Questioned Support for Israel to the USMC Commandant. Was That Against the Rules?
Servicemembers are not allowed to make political statements while in uniform, but questioning US support for Israel could fall outside the traditional bounds of a “political statement.”
A video first posted to X and Facebook on Thursday has gone viral, sparking a debate about free speech and what views military personnel are allowed to share under the existing regulations of the Armed Forces.
In the video, a United States Marine, wearing combat fatigues, asks the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Eric M. Smith, during a Q&A session, “I ask this question solely for the betterment of our nation. Do you believe that the Zionist State of Israel is really a reliable ally of the United States?”
In the video, Smith responds, “Do I believe that Israel is an ally of the United States? Yes, I do.” He then clarifies that the role of the military is not to make decisions based on political views, but to follow the orders of the government: “Do I want to get involved in a political discussion about, should we or should we not support Israel? That’s not my decision to make. That’s a decision for the President of the United States to make.”
Smith notes that Israel is “a very reliable ally” and “our best ally in the Middle East.” He concludes, “We’re going to continue to support them, because that is the current policy of the United States of America. We get paid to enforce policy, not to make it.”
The video appears to have been recorded on October 8 during a panel discussion Smith held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, with Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao. Cao is visible on stage during Smith’s remarks. The event was not recorded; the Marine’s question, and Smith’s response, appear to have been filmed on another Marine’s cell phone.
The Rules Are Clear: Uniformed Military Personnel Can’t Make “Political Statements”
The 46-second-long video spurred a serious debate, beyond simply the question the unnamed Marine asked. Opponents of Israel praised his courage; however, supporters seized on his use of the phrase “Zionist State of Israel” as a pejorative and called for him to be reprimanded.
On the surface, most would assume that the Marine in the video has the same First Amendment rights to free speech as anyone else in the United States. However, the fact that he is an active-duty Marine makes things more complicated.
“Active-duty Marines are strictly prohibited from making political statements, endorsing candidates, or participating in partisan political activities while wearing their military uniform,” the USMC makes clear in its regulations.
According to Pentagon Directive 1344.10 and USMC policy, Marines cannot wear the uniform at political campaign events, rallies, fundraisers, or in campaign media and promotional materials. In addition, US military servicemembers cannot generally express partisan political opinions or post political content while in uniform. Nor can they use their military rank or authority to endorse a candidate or party.
Out of uniform, and when acting in a purely private capacity, Marines—as with all US servicemembers—are permitted to perform the same range of political activities all citizens are: vote, sign petitions, contribute funds to political campaigns within legal limits, and express personal political opinions. However, they must make clear that their activities do not imply official endorsement by the Marine Corps or the Pentagon.
Violating these regulations can result in disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). This is potentially a serious matter—as illustrated by the pending general court-martial of Air Force Major Jason Watson, who is now being detained by Air Force security at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Watson was arrested on the US Capitol steps while wearing his uniform and calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance in July, and a second time in August.
The Air Force has charged Watson with 10 offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the laws governing the US military: three Article 88 violations for making “contemptuous” remarks about the president, five Article 92 violations for disobeying orders (e.g. orders forbidding political participation in uniform), and two broader Article 133 violations for conduct unbecoming of an officer.
Is a Question About “Zionists” a Political Statement?
The situation with the Marine seems different. He wasn’t protesting, campaigning, or expressing “partisan political opinions,” at least not along the traditional lines of left versus right.
Much of the discussion online has hinged on the Marine’s use of the word “Zionist” in reference to the State of Israel. While Israel was indeed founded on “Zionism,” the belief in a homeland for Jews within historic Palestine, the word has been widely used as a pejorative among critics of Israel. Many pro-Palestinian advocates use the words “Zionist” or “Zionism” to imply Israeli settler-colonialism, territorial expansion, or the displacement of Palestinians from their historic homeland in the Middle East.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) note that “Zionist” or related compound labels are frequently weaponized as a “coded shorthand or dog whistle” for Jewish people as a whole, or embedded with classic anti-Semitic tropes regarding Jews’ supposed dual loyalty and control over global media and finance. It has become a snarl word among the US left when used at university anti-war protests regarding Israel and the Gaza war.
The context of the Q&A with General Smith is unclear, but it seemed that the Marine Corps commandant was taking questions from within the ranks. Had the Marine asked, “Do you believe the State of Israel is a reliable ally of the United States?” it may not have been an issue, but adding the word “Zionist” could be enough to cross a line.
If the Marine Broke the Rules, What Would the Consequences Be?
If the Marine Corps does come to the conclusion that the question violated regulations, what would it mean for the Marine in question?
That’s a question being asked online. Many former Marines have suggested that he’ll get a not-so-pleasant talking-to from his immediate superiors. Whether it will hurt his career in the long run is less certain.
But even if the incident doesn’t simply get buried in a file someplace—which could be the more likely outcome—it will probably live on forever online. The anonymous Marine will forever be the man in the ranks who, for better or worse, questioned whether “Zionist” Israel was truly an ally of the United States.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. He has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism, including Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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