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The Department of Defense (DOD) has ordered an immediate worldwide pause on its social media pages and is halting all posts on all social media platforms, unless the posts relate to US military operations and deployments to protect the southern border, Fox News has learned.
The order came with President Donald Trump’s endorsement from the White House and will remain in place until his selection for defense secretary is confirmed and he directs otherwise, two senior US defense officials told Fox News.
The temporary pause is expected to last a matter of days while guidance is given to all uniformed and civilian public affairs officers responsible for social media websites.
All social media posts should reflect an emphasis on “warfighting and lethality” only, sources said.
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Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, arrives at the 60th presidential inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A senior defense official said the new administration wants to make sure “all communications are aligned” with its goals. The pause only applies to social media posts. Press releases will still be emailed to reporters and posted on DOD websites, sources said.
Civilian and military public affairs officers worldwide will soon receive insider guidance on all social media sites and outreach for military recruiting, DOD school sites, and combatant command sites on operations ongoing military
Social media accounts will be closed and past content will not be deleted, but new posts will not be allowed until the incoming defense secretary, once confirmed, directs otherwise, a senior U.S. defense official explained on Fox News.
“The Department of Defense is reviewing its social media programming to ensure it aligns with President Trump’s priorities on readiness, lethality and warfighting,” a senior Defense Department official told Fox News. defense of the United States in a statement. “This pause does not apply to content and images related to current DOD border security operations announced yesterday by Acting Secretary of Defense Robert G. Salesses.”
Under previous administrations, including the Biden administration, the military had come under fire for social media posts focused on what critics called “woke” priorities.
The Army of us In 2021, he released an animated recruiting ad telling the story of an Army corporal with two mothers as part of a recruiting campaign, “The Calling,” which depicted the diverse stories of five different service members .
“It begins in California with a little girl raised by two mothers,” the narrator, Cpl. Emma Malonelord said in the video. “Even though I had a pretty typical childhood, I took ballet, I played the violin, I also marched for equality. I like to think that I’ve been standing up for freedom from a young age.”
Critics were quick to express concern about the ad undermining confidence in the strength of the US military, Fox News Digital reported at the time. Many social media users posted side-by-side comparisons to the ads posted by other nations’ militaries.
“We are so damned” Media Research Center Dan Gainor wrote at the time alongside the edited clip.
“The Russians are building a military focused on killing people and breaking things. We’re apparently building a military focused on being able to explain microaggressions and critical race theory to Afghan tribes,” agreed John Hawkins at the time.
American flags and a pride flag hang from the White House during a Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn June 10, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Cneta)
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At the beginning of Pride Month, 2022, the US Space Force published on X, highlighting the comments of General Leah Lauderback on the “Queerspace” podcast.
“The general, Gen. Leah Lauderback, discussed how the LIT works to change policy, change minds, and create opportunities for LGBTQ+ members of the military,” the site stated.
On the same day, the official account of the US Marines on X shared an illustration of a marine helmet with rainbow-colored bullets.
“Throughout June, the USMC takes #Pride in recognizing and honoring the contributions of our LGBTQ service members,” the military branch wrote. “We remain committed to fostering an environment free of discrimination and upholding the values of treating everyone equally, with dignity and respect.”
In June 2023, the United States Air Force released an illustration on X during Pride Month, featuring a service member saluting in front of the rainbow flag.
The post received nearly 6,000 comments.
“As an Air Force vet, shame on me,” one critic wrote. “How (far) we have fallen as a proud nation. These bulls must end.”
“Today’s Pentagon and Joint Chiefs are a national embarrassment and destroying military readiness,” wrote another. “Left”.
The U.S. State Department recently adopted a Trump administration “flag policy” order that only allows the American flag to be flown on American buildings at home and abroad, with two notable exceptions The flag of illegal detainees.
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Trump also ordered the closure of all government offices of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). All Dei federal workers were placed on paid administrative leave.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for further comment.
Fox News Digital’s Yael Halon and Stephen Sorace contributed to this story.
