Drill sergeant's 'MAGA' TikTok video sparks investigation
Share and Follow

Inset: The MAGA banner that was hanging above soldiers’ heads in one of Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell’s alleged TikTok videos (Military.com/TikTok). Background: President Donald Trump listens as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).

The U.S. Army is investigating whether a drill sergeant’s TikTok video that he posted recently showing soldiers doing pushups underneath a Make America Great Again (MAGA) banner violates military regulations that prohibit the display of “partisan political materials” by service members in government facilities, according to officials.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell’s TikTok antics, which were documented by Military.com in screenshots, sparked an internal probe after they were brought to the attention of Army officials, the website reports.

“This Is Ultra MAGA Country,” the banner in question allegedly said in Mitchell’s now-deleted TikTok post, which was uploaded Friday and showed a group of trainees doing pushups and burpees in full body armor underneath the banner.

Mitchell reportedly loaded another video after deleting the first one, which showed the soldiers doing similar exercises with a caption that read, “Cry about it,” according to Military.com.

Mitchell, who went by the moniker @11chuckdeuce on TikTok, appears to have scrubbed his account at some point after the Army probe was launched; it was gone as of Tuesday, along with his personal art page on Instagram, @jrs_artt. He had nearly 6,000 followers before deleting his TikTok account.

“The U.S. Army is an apolitical organization,” said Jennifer Gunn, a Fort Benning and Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) spokesperson, in a statement to Law&Crime on Tuesday.

“Displaying partisan political materials in government facilities, including training areas, is prohibited under Army regulation,” she said. “We will investigate this matter and address it in accordance with established policies to ensure compliance with standards of conduct and to maintain an environment free from political influence.”

Garrison Public Affairs Director Joe Cole told Law&Crime that the investigation would “take some time” and that an update was not available on Mitchell’s current status as an infantry drill sergeant at Fort Benning in Georgia.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

High-Tech Heroics: Robot Retrieves Shotgun, Aids Deputies in Resolving Intense Hour-Long Standoff Safely

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On Thursday evening, authorities arrested Marshall W.…

Man hunts down ex-girlfriend, murders her in front of kids

Insets, left to right: Lawyer McBride (Richmond police) and Rashanda Franklin (Latesha…

Three Mississippi Shootings Near High Schools Leave 8 Dead, Numerous Injured

Three Friday night and early Saturday morning Mississippi shootings, that centered around…

Teens bragged on Instagram about killing 12-year-old girl

Insets, left to right: Jayden Burch (Lake City police) and Mariah Smith…

School therapist stalked and tried poisoning her ex: Cops

Cheryl Gates (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office). A North Carolina school therapist has…

Newberry man arrested for hit and run, DUI, and refusing to provide a breath sample

Staff report NEWBERRY, Fla. – Mason Luke Gleeson, 23, was arrested yesterday…

Man who killed daughter’s alleged rapist running for sheriff

Left: Aaron Spencer (GiveSendGo). Right: in a mug shot after his arrest…

Man set on fire on porch, 80% of skin burned in fatal attack

Inset: Brandon Butchkoski (Boone County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The porch where Brandon…