Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) on Tuesday said it was OK for Texans to question the government about a military training program set to take place in seven western states this summer, the Texas Tribune reported.

“I think it’s OK to question your government — I do it on a pretty regular basis,” Perry said. “The military’s something else.”

“You know, I think our military is quite trustworthy,” Perry continued. “Civilian leadership – you can always question that, but not the men and women in uniform.”

Perry’s comments, made during a World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth luncheon, were in reference to Jade Helm 15. The military training program has caused quite a stir among conspiracy theorists who believe the operation may be a covert government plan to take over Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R), Perry’s successor, last week ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor the military exercises to ensure that the operation is truly just “standard training.”

Texas Tribune reporter Patrick Svitek tweeted that he’d asked Perry whether his comments were in response to Abbott’s decision to monitor the military.