I'm about to drop a piece at The Atlantic on this Pentagon purge. As I warned, Trump is capturing Justice, Intelligence, the military. This is praetorianism, pure and simple.
February 22, 2025 at 3:20 AM
I'm about to drop a piece at The Atlantic on this Pentagon purge. As I warned, Trump is capturing Justice, Intelligence, the military. This is praetorianism, pure and simple.
And yeah, I used "praetorianism" as shorthand (somewhat breezily) for "establishing a palace guard," but whichever term we choose, it is the winnowing of an apolitical military and creation of a personal military force loyal to a single leader. (The actual praetorianism comes later.)
Pretty sure most of the civ-mil scholars are speaking pretty damn plainly about this stuff.
We may quibble on coup vs autogolpe, but we are ringing the alarm bells.
Not sure more than a few are doing discourse analysis to assess if there is a crisis.
We may quibble on coup vs autogolpe, but we are ringing the alarm bells.
Not sure more than a few are doing discourse analysis to assess if there is a crisis.
February 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
And yeah, I used "praetorianism" as shorthand (somewhat breezily) for "establishing a palace guard," but whichever term we choose, it is the winnowing of an apolitical military and creation of a personal military force loyal to a single leader. (The actual praetorianism comes later.)
nah thats praetorianism and uh not a great a idea mechanically
January 17, 2026 at 4:15 PM
nah thats praetorianism and uh not a great a idea mechanically
‘Praetorianism’ is a perfect description of the incoming Trump regime. Trump is dependent on & beholden to a powerful elite who tell him what to do, manoeuving around him to promote their own interests. He is a President In Name Only. #Praetorianism #Praetorian #PINO #PINOTrump #PresidentInNameOnly
Political scientists coined the phrase Praetorianism to describe the political systems that often operated in - inter alia - authoritarian Latin American states. Like the praetorian guard in Ancient Rome, rulers grew dependent on powerful groups & individuals who could then influence the leadership.
December 21, 2024 at 10:06 AM
‘Praetorianism’ is a perfect description of the incoming Trump regime. Trump is dependent on & beholden to a powerful elite who tell him what to do, manoeuving around him to promote their own interests. He is a President In Name Only. #Praetorianism #Praetorian #PINO #PINOTrump #PresidentInNameOnly
Me: looking up praetorianism.
February 22, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Me: looking up praetorianism.
U.S. military leadership must speak out firmly against the growing political instability in this country, and Trump’s efforts to build praetorianism within our government. Trump’s ultimate goal is authoritarian rule.
📌It’s about time ALL our retired military flag officers started showing some damn leadership by speaking out against this authoritarian attack on our nation.
You know damn well that what is happening right now is WRONG.
You know damn well that what is happening right now is WRONG.
February 22, 2025 at 4:47 AM
U.S. military leadership must speak out firmly against the growing political instability in this country, and Trump’s efforts to build praetorianism within our government. Trump’s ultimate goal is authoritarian rule.
Praetorianism... I learned a new word.
"Praetorianism means excessive or abusive political influence of the armed forces in a country. The word comes from the Roman Praetorian Guard, who became increasingly influential in the appointment of Roman emperors."
"Praetorianism means excessive or abusive political influence of the armed forces in a country. The word comes from the Roman Praetorian Guard, who became increasingly influential in the appointment of Roman emperors."
February 22, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Praetorianism... I learned a new word.
"Praetorianism means excessive or abusive political influence of the armed forces in a country. The word comes from the Roman Praetorian Guard, who became increasingly influential in the appointment of Roman emperors."
"Praetorianism means excessive or abusive political influence of the armed forces in a country. The word comes from the Roman Praetorian Guard, who became increasingly influential in the appointment of Roman emperors."
“Praetorianism”, you say?
I have a better spelling:
“Prætorianism”
I have a better spelling:
“Prætorianism”
February 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
“Praetorianism”, you say?
I have a better spelling:
“Prætorianism”
I have a better spelling:
“Prætorianism”
‘Praetorianism’ is a perfect description of the incoming Trump regime. Trump is dependent on & beholden to a powerful elite who tell him what to do, manoeuving around him to promote their own interests. He is a President In Name Only. #Praetorianism #Praetorian #PINO #PINOTrump #PresidentInNameOnly
Political scientists coined the phrase Praetorianism to describe the political systems that often operated in - inter alia - authoritarian Latin American states. Like the praetorian guard in Ancient Rome, rulers grew dependent on powerful groups & individuals who could then influence the leadership.
December 21, 2024 at 11:38 AM
You know @radiofreetom.bsky.social can correct me if I am wrong, but this ALSO seems like praetorianism.
The Office of Personnel Management told the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to reinstate veterans, disabled veterans, and military spouses who were fired, according to an email sent to CFPB employees who saw their terminations reversed. news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/...
OPM Tells CFPB to Reinstate Fired Veterans, Military Spouses
The Office of Personnel Management told the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to reinstate veterans, disabled veterans, and military spouses who were fired, according to an email sent to CFPB emplo...
news.bloomberglaw.com
February 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
You know @radiofreetom.bsky.social can correct me if I am wrong, but this ALSO seems like praetorianism.
It’s not good that a majority of Dems are willing to express support for hypothetical praetorianism in a poll, but 100% of Republicans supported a coup *after* it had been attempted, and in fact, grew more supportive of it over time. Not gonna hear this whining from them
September 23, 2026 at 2:40 PM
It’s not good that a majority of Dems are willing to express support for hypothetical praetorianism in a poll, but 100% of Republicans supported a coup *after* it had been attempted, and in fact, grew more supportive of it over time. Not gonna hear this whining from them
None of this has anything to do with effectiveness, or “lethality,” or promoting “warfighters," or any other buzzwords. It is praetorianism, plain and simple, and it is an assault on our military and our democracy.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
A Friday Night Massacre at the Pentagon
Trump’s purge started with his firing of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top Navy officer, and the vice chief of the Air Force.
www.theatlantic.com
February 22, 2025 at 3:28 AM
None of this has anything to do with effectiveness, or “lethality,” or promoting “warfighters," or any other buzzwords. It is praetorianism, plain and simple, and it is an assault on our military and our democracy.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
But praetorianism actually means abusive political interference. Why use three words when one can do? That's a good writer.
February 22, 2025 at 3:00 PM
But praetorianism actually means abusive political interference. Why use three words when one can do? That's a good writer.
The expectation cannot be that the military is supposed to have a senior officer corps in which there is not one political hack, not one yes-man, not one careerist.
That is not possible and if it was you'd just get praetorianism, not democratic control of the military.
That is not possible and if it was you'd just get praetorianism, not democratic control of the military.
September 12, 2026 at 12:30 AM
The expectation cannot be that the military is supposed to have a senior officer corps in which there is not one political hack, not one yes-man, not one careerist.
That is not possible and if it was you'd just get praetorianism, not democratic control of the military.
That is not possible and if it was you'd just get praetorianism, not democratic control of the military.
David Pion-Berlin has a bunch of papers on var. cases, including in Latin America, Pion-Berlin, David, and Harold Trinkunas. 2010. “Civilian Praetorianism And Military Shirking During Constitutional Crises In Latin America.” Comparative Politics 42 (4): 395–411. doi:10.5129/001041510X12911363509990.
June 8, 2025 at 1:14 PM
David Pion-Berlin has a bunch of papers on var. cases, including in Latin America, Pion-Berlin, David, and Harold Trinkunas. 2010. “Civilian Praetorianism And Military Shirking During Constitutional Crises In Latin America.” Comparative Politics 42 (4): 395–411. doi:10.5129/001041510X12911363509990.
Nice vocabulary Tom! I had to look up "praetorianism." Atlantic subscriber here. I guess that I never needed this word before 2025, but we all do now!
February 22, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Nice vocabulary Tom! I had to look up "praetorianism." Atlantic subscriber here. I guess that I never needed this word before 2025, but we all do now!
"None of this has anything to do with effectiveness, or “lethality,” or promoting “warfighters,” or any other buzzwords. It is praetorianism, plain and simple."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
A Friday-Night Massacre at the Pentagon
Trump’s purge started with his firing of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top Navy officer, and the vice chief of the Air Force.
www.theatlantic.com
February 23, 2025 at 8:43 AM
"None of this has anything to do with effectiveness, or “lethality,” or promoting “warfighters,” or any other buzzwords. It is praetorianism, plain and simple."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Love to have a government during an economic boom whose social and infrastructure spending is 0 because its politicians figured out you could just promise bigger and bigger payouts to win each election. Democratic praetorianism.
August 18, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Love to have a government during an economic boom whose social and infrastructure spending is 0 because its politicians figured out you could just promise bigger and bigger payouts to win each election. Democratic praetorianism.
Yeah, I mean... the fancy word for this problem is "praetorianism".
June 20, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Yeah, I mean... the fancy word for this problem is "praetorianism".
Praetorianism. It means excessive or abusive political influence of the armed forces in a country. The word comes from the Roman Praetorian Guard, who became increasingly influential in the appointment of Roman emperors.
February 22, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Praetorianism. It means excessive or abusive political influence of the armed forces in a country. The word comes from the Roman Praetorian Guard, who became increasingly influential in the appointment of Roman emperors.
Yah, but this is excessive political influence on the military. Praetorianism is just the opposite.
February 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Yah, but this is excessive political influence on the military. Praetorianism is just the opposite.
Danger Yam replaced Gen. Brown with this unqualified MAGA sycophant named Dan Caine. Dan famously told Trump: "I love you, sir. I think you’re great, sir. I’ll kill for you, sir." Apparently this qualifies him for the top job in the US military.
#Praetorianism
#Praetorianism
February 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Danger Yam replaced Gen. Brown with this unqualified MAGA sycophant named Dan Caine. Dan famously told Trump: "I love you, sir. I think you’re great, sir. I’ll kill for you, sir." Apparently this qualifies him for the top job in the US military.
#Praetorianism
#Praetorianism
1. Crucial point in terms of entrenching a culture of praetorianism that distorts US military institutions and undermines basic understanding of the foundations of US military strength.
2. follow @sodrock.bsky.social for some sharp analysis and excellent substack essays.
2. follow @sodrock.bsky.social for some sharp analysis and excellent substack essays.
October 6, 2025 at 12:14 PM
1. Crucial point in terms of entrenching a culture of praetorianism that distorts US military institutions and undermines basic understanding of the foundations of US military strength.
2. follow @sodrock.bsky.social for some sharp analysis and excellent substack essays.
2. follow @sodrock.bsky.social for some sharp analysis and excellent substack essays.
@kschake.bsky.social argues that pushing military servicemembers to willfully disobey lawful orders they determine are democracy corroding and immoral invites insubordination and ineffectualness. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/avoi...
Avoiding Praetorianism in Civil-Military Relations
Allowing the military to determine what “extraordinary circumstances” permit disobedience invites insubordination and ineffectualness.
www.lawfaremedia.org
June 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
@kschake.bsky.social argues that pushing military servicemembers to willfully disobey lawful orders they determine are democracy corroding and immoral invites insubordination and ineffectualness. www.lawfaremedia.org/article/avoi...
Does this Trump guy have a major role in the Musk administration?
#PINO #Praetorianism #PresidentInNameOnly
#PINO #Praetorianism #PresidentInNameOnly
December 23, 2024 at 8:45 AM
Does this Trump guy have a major role in the Musk administration?
#PINO #Praetorianism #PresidentInNameOnly
#PINO #Praetorianism #PresidentInNameOnly