Trump administration turns hostile on Aspen Security Forum [View all]

Source: The Hill

07/20/25 6:00 AM ET


The Trump administration’s last-minute snub of the Aspen Security Forum this week betrays a growing animosity between the U.S. government and wider national security community. The Pentagon on Monday pulled senior Defense Department officials from the annual event —only a day before the start of the four-day summit in Colorado — claiming the bipartisan gathering “promotes the evil of globalism, disdain for our great country, and hatred for the President of the United States.”

The strong wording has alarmed some experts and former government officials, who see a growing tendency for the administration to cut off anyone who criticizes or so much as offers an alternative view to that of the current U.S. government — putting up a barrier between them and the decisionmakers.

“The Trump administration doesn’t like dissent, I think that’s pretty clear. And they don’t like dissenting views at conferences,” a Republican political strategist and frequent forum attendee told The Hill. “Causing a stir about perceived criticism of the Trump administration makes people afraid to cross them and lose access to the administration. They might be cut off from people who are implementing policies.” But the shunning of events on the national security and foreign policy circuit does no favors for the administration’s national security goals, experts say, as they lend a platform to potentially different viewpoints that could be useful for Washington.

Case in point, those gathered at the mountain retreat were described as “bewildered” by the decision on account of the forum’s well-known bipartisan agenda, with several former Trump administration officials slated to speak, according to the political strategist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “It was a surprise because most of us were traveling to the conference when the announcement occurred,” the strategist said. “I think most people who attend the event frequently never viewed it as being partisan or anti-Trump. So it was bewildering and I think a little bit concerning.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/5410319-trump-administration-turns-hostile-on-aspen-security-forum/