As the Trump administration’s war against Iran continues, discussions have arisen concerning whether or not Trump will send ground troops into the country. The possibility of putting U.S. troops on the ground in Iran has, in turn, fueled speculation that Trump could end up reinstating a military draft, a measure last used during the Vietnam War.
Press Secretary’s response fuels draft speculation
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently appeared on Fox News to discuss comments by Trump that indicated that U.S. troops could be sent to Iran. “Mothers out there are worried that we’re gonna have a draft, that they’re going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this,” Fox host Maria Bartiromo explained, before asking Leavitt, “What do you wanna say about the president’s plan for troops on the ground?” Rather than dismiss the possibility, the press secretary instead asserted that Trump “wisely does not remove options off of the table.” The response left some with the impression that Trump is considering a draft. “Trump is considering a military draft as part of his options for the US Israel war on Iran,” The hacker and activist group Anonymous posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with the clip.
The speculation about a draft has also brought attention to a move by the House of Representatives to update registration of young men for the Selective Service. “The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure to automatically register men for the Selective Service, updating requirements for the first time in decades,” Fox 5 DC posted on social media Monday, noting in the attached story that the measure “to automatically register men aged 18 to 26 for the Selective Service” was passed by the House in 2024 “as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).”
Draft unlikely, but administration’s plans remain unclear
These moves have inspired a variety of reactions. “The military draft comment from Leavitt feels like a trial balloon,” writer Charlotte Clymer posted on X. “If there’s enough outcry, Trump denies it and Leavitt falls on her sword for ‘misspeaking.’ If there’s not, Trump and Hegseth bring it up casually and slowly push,” Clymer explained, speculating, “For example, Trump may ‘joke’ about it as a next step.”
Others pointed out that a draft is unlikely while still blaming the White House for causing the rumor to spread. “The real lesson here is that Leavitt is terrible at her job,” writer Jeremiah Johnson posted on X, noting, “Only Congress can reinstate the draft, and the congressional GOP isn’t suicidal. And the military isn’t even in a position to implement a draft/process draftees right now.” Johnson blamed Leavitt for reflexively defending Trump against any questions, saying, “She doesn’t actually know the details of something like ‘only Congress can reinstate the draft’ because her thought process begins and ends with Trump being a perfect godlike being who can do anything he wants and can never be questions.”
As explained by Military.com, a veteran-founded website that specializes in news relevant to U.S. personnel, conscription has a long history in the U.S. and was used extensively for World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The draft was last used in 1973, near the end of the Vietnam War. Since then, the U.S. military has operated on an all-volunteer basis, and that is unlikely to change soon. Nonetheless, speculation about a draft reflects larger uncertainty about the current conflict with Iran, in which seven U.S. soldiers have died and about 140 have been injured so far.
For now, Trump and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have not ruled out the possibility of sending ground troops into Iran. But the mounting casualties and uncertain nature of the ongoing conflict has many people contemplating a variety of scenarios, making the unlikely possibility of a new military draft seem possible under Trump’s leadership.
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