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Mark Hertling: Trump’s Team Has No Clue What They’re Doing

2025-12-09 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
The Bulwark
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Critique of Trump's Foreign Policy and Misuse of Military Force

Analyze the damaging implications of Trump's transactional foreign policy on European alliances and US military operations, featuring retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling.

Short Summary

  • Trump’s proposed National Security Strategy views allies transactionally, disregarding established global defense structures like NATO.
  • Military actions in the Caribbean, like targeted boat strikes, appear politically motivated rather than strategically sound according to experts.
  • Dissatisfaction among senior military leadership, evidenced by Admiral Holsey's reported conflict with Secretary Hegseth, signals deep civil-military friction.
  • The discussion stresses that US global leadership relies on alliances, which the current approach actively degrades.

Former Commanding General of US Army Europe, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, joins Tim Miller to dissect the implications of President Trump’s recent statements and proposed National Security Strategy. They examine how transactional diplomacy alienates key allies and question the rationale behind recent kinetic military actions utilized for performative politics.

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Description

Heaping scorn and disdain on Europe, Trump called its countries decaying and its leaders weak, but the U.S. likely needs Europe more than they need us. And while POTUS is whining that Zelensky won't consider his rigged deal with Putin, the corruption of Trump's negotiating team is off the charts, with Witkoff and Kushner trying to work a land deal rather than a peace treaty. Meanwhile, the boat bombings seem to be about performative politics, Hegseth is pushing out another high-ranking black officer—for voicing concerns about the strikes on alleged drug-runners in the Caribbean—and where is the video of that Sept 2 restrike that killed two survivors? Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Tim Miller. Show Notes: Hertling's piece on Trump's new National Security Strategy: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-national-security-strategy-ways-means-ends-trump-foreign-policy-china-iran-russia-north-korea?r=af2rj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false Hertling on the potential misuse of Special Forces in the boat strikes: https://substack.com/@markhertling/note/p-180836963?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=af2rj Remembering National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, by Hertling: https://substack.com/@markhertling/note/p-180293959?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=af2rj Email for Tim's mailbag: [email protected] Trump's Politico interview: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/09/trump-dasha-burns-interview-europe-immigration-ukraine-00682016?utm_content=topic/politics&utm_source=flipboard Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BULWARK. Promo Code BULWARK Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join

Top Comments (10)

@andysozio8556 2025-12-09

Mark Hertling is an actual patriot not a fake one.

333 2 replies
@BassDad8 2025-12-09

Oh my God the Bulwark is pulling some talent!!!

320 5 replies
@juliesummers7717 2025-12-09

So happy to hear that Mark Hertling is part of the bulwark!

221 4 replies
@beardown6574 2025-12-09

Congrats sir on joining the bulwark team!

187 1 replies
@LisaCampa-cw6en 2025-12-09

LOVE Mark Hertling!!! I am thrilled to hear he is now part of the Bulwark team. Great way to go into 2026!!

184 1 replies
@kimberlywpb 2025-12-09

Love this addition of Hertling. I trust his knowledge and appreciate his temperament.

171 1 replies
@SusanJappinen 2025-12-09

He is going to be a great asset to The Bulwark. Now I know where to go when I need to find out what is actually going on with military actions.

95 1 replies
@merrilearepesh 2025-12-09

I’m very impressed with this collaboration. The General is a fountain of information. Very proud of Bulwark.😊

59
@billmckenzie9005 2025-12-09

Excellent show. As a veteran of US Army military intelligence I greatly appreciate Lt. General Hertlings 38 years of meritorious military service. He is very articulate. I came to the show and my world views have been swayed.

57 1 replies
@Kimlovesdogs 2025-12-10

I absolutely adore Mark Hertling! Brilliant, rational, kind. So glad he's on the Bulwark!

46

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