The Pentagon has pulled several high-ranking military officials from participating in the Aspen Security Forum, a prominent annual conference hosted by the Aspen Institute. The forum, scheduled to begin Tuesday in Colorado, typically features discussions among top military leaders, national security experts, and policymakers from across the political spectrum.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said in a statement that the Department of Defense will not support an event that “invited former officials who have been the architects of chaos abroad and failure at home.” Wilson emphasized that the department has no interest in legitimizing such a platform.
Event’s High-Profile Lineup Raises Tensions
The 2025 forum was expected to include major figures in U.S. security, including Adm. Samuel Paparo of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Gen. Bryan Fenton of U.S. Special Operations Command, and Lt. Gen. John Brennan of U.S. Africa Command. A concluding session was also scheduled to feature a conversation between former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, ex-Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and current National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Despite the bipartisan nature of past forums, Wilson argued that this year’s event promotes “the evil of globalism, disdain for our great country, and hatred for the president of the United States.” Her statement was first reported by “Just the News.”
Controversial Rhetoric and Online History Emerge
Criticism of the event took a deeper turn as scrutiny mounted around Wilson herself. She has a documented history of sharing extremist rhetoric on social media, including antisemitic conspiracy theories and white nationalist content. Some of these posts date back to 2021, while others are more recent.
One particular post still live as of this article’s publication includes a decades-old antisemitic trope about Leo Frank, a Jewish man wrongly convicted and lynched in early 20th century Atlanta.
Her use of the term “globalist” has also drawn attention. The Anti-Defamation League has previously noted that the word is often used as an antisemitic dog whistle, targeting individuals involved in global finance or international policy under the guise of patriotism.
Pentagon Tries to Soften Its Position
Later Monday, a more restrained statement was issued by top Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, distancing the department from Wilson’s harsh tone. This second release noted simply that the conference’s “values do not align with the values” of the Pentagon’s current leadership.
Nevertheless, Wilson stood by her original statement when asked by Military.com. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also appeared to support the language used, reposting a headline with the term “globalist” and commenting “correct.”
Broader Political Undercurrents at Play
The controversy highlights increasing political polarization in national security circles. Hegseth recently appeared at a Turning Point USA rally, a far-right event led by conservative activist Charlie Kirk. While speaking at the Student Action Summit, Hegseth claimed the Department of Defense “doesn’t do politics,” even as he criticized NATO and praised nationalist ideals.
Asked whether the Pentagon would also withdraw from the upcoming Reagan National Security Forum, a spokesperson said there was “nothing to announce regarding Reagan at this time.”
