CNN ran a widely criticized hit piece Wednesday accusing U.S. troops stationed in Iraq of violating certain Department of Defense guidelines.

Published hours after President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived in Iraq for a surprise visit with U.S. troops stationed at Al Asad Air Base, the piece specifically complained about the troops asking the president to sign their “Make America Great Again” hats.

“But troops’ requests for the autographs could brush up against [DoD] guidelines for political activities,” the virulently left-wing network breathlessly reported.

“Those guidelines say that ‘active duty personnel may not engage in partisan political activities and all military personnel should avoid the inference that their political activities imply or appear to imply DoD sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign, or cause.'”

CNN even took the time to ask certain “US military authorities” for comment. None reportedly replied.

Video footage and the written report of Trump’s visit with service members in Iraq showed signing of hats and a “Trump 2020” patch. But troops’ requests for the autographs could brush up against Department of Defense guidelines for political activities. https://t.co/jUUqF91bcX — CNN (@CNN) December 27, 2018

The network did obtain a quote from retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, an Obama-era spokesperson.

“It is in fact a campaign slogan, that is a campaign item, and it is completely inappropriate for the troops to do this,” Kirby said. “Every time [Trump’s] around military audiences, he tends to politicize it, and he brings in complaints and grievances from outside the realm of military policy.”

This stunning hit piece was not well received on social media, where CNN has been pilloried nonstop for attacking America’s men and women in uniform.

Look:

These people are risking their lives for this country and your right to write dumb crap like this. There is nothing wrong with them being excited about a Presidential visit. Trying to get them in trouble for it is pathetic. — (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) December 27, 2018

Tattle-tailing on the soldiers to own the cons. This is #CNN — Jon K (@Jonkeren2525) December 27, 2018

Y’all are low!!! God bless our troops. No matter who the ask for a signature. — Michael Johnson (@Michael12664871) December 27, 2018

WOW….didn’t think even CNN would sink so low as to CALL OUT service men and woman (who risk there lives everyday) all because some in the military wanted THERE hats signed by the president.. — Papa Georgio (@idgeorgio) December 27, 2018

Those soldiers are a world away from their families. What a shameful way to treat them. @CNN — Miles J Fenucci (@FenucciMiles) December 27, 2018

Here comes the anti American and anti Military @CNN crew trying to dog whistle to the @DeptofDefense to what? Being ip troops in a war zone under charges for supporting their commander in chief?!!! Disgusting #CNNisISIS @realDonaldTrump the #FakeNews is shameful! — Blonde Mama Karin (@BlondeMamaUSA_) December 27, 2018

CNN is the neighbor who calls the police on your daughters for sellling lemonade without a permit. https://t.co/guyUILJAtB — Chris Guzman (@christopherguz) December 27, 2018

Retired Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill, the man credited with killing Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden, chimed in well, asking, “[W]hy are you trying to throw war-time troops under the bus?”

.@CNNPolitics … why are you trying to throw war-time troops under the bus? https://t.co/74YcG8284r — Robert J. O’Neill (@mchooyah) December 27, 2018



If CNN were alone in its audacity, Americans could simply switch the channel on their TVs. The problem is that this sort of flagrantly anti-America sentiment runs deep throughout the media.

During the president’s visit Wednesday evening to Ramastein Air Base in Germany, a Bloomberg News reporter shared images to Twitter of troops holding MAGA hats and gear.

Look:

#maga hat contingent at Ramstein waiting for President Trump pic.twitter.com/18wdP87vZK — Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) December 27, 2018

Trump flag (she dropped it after she saw me taking a photo) pic.twitter.com/LhPwUNdEK3 — Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) December 27, 2018

In fairness to the reporter, she didn’t complain about what she saw. Yet the argument could be made that she knew full well how her rabidly left-wing followers would react to these pictures: by attacking America’s men and women in uniform for being “white trash,” among other things.

Look:

‘they draft white trash first ’round here anyway’ — Quirkythoughts (@QuirkyThoughts) December 27, 2018

Gross — Raffaella77 (@HeelSpurs0) December 27, 2018

Disgraceful. — Philip Mallet (@PhilipMallet1) December 27, 2018

Dishonoring the uniform. — Frank Patrick (@fpatrick) December 27, 2018

They can’t all be geniuses — Volcanic Bionics (@JbarGarden) December 27, 2018

Where are their commanders? Do they not know that the MAJORITY of America finds this highly offensive. In the hands of service members, this evokes fear. — Debra J. Cavalieri (@debra_cavalieri) December 27, 2018

Seriously, this is strictly forbidden under military rules. Politicking not permitted. https://t.co/xRgaAbDUqw — Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) December 27, 2018

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …

It’s unclear why these people think that U.S. troops showing appreciation for their commander in chief is “disgraceful” and “gross.” It’s also unclear why they think any of this is illegal. It’s not.

Getting an autograph from the President is not politicking. Grow up, and stop being so pedantic. — DM says Make Them Live By Their Rules (@idaho_expatriot) December 27, 2018

They are not showing support for a candidate, they are showing support for their President, for God’s sake#TrumpDerangementSyndrome is sad but true — TheTruthWorker ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@TheTruthWorker) December 27, 2018

Its not politicking, its greeting the Commander and Chief. — George Bentley Undocumented Blue Checkmark (@Geobent) December 27, 2018

There is no law against her holding that flag. She was not in duty at that moment. — De Neef, Gino ,????, there is only♀️or♂️ (@GinoDN001) December 27, 2018

Go over there and tell these brave men and women that they are not doing it properly in your opinion. Or maybe grow up and allow these men and women who protect our freedom a little happiness while serving. — Brandon Saario (@SaarioBrandon) December 27, 2018

HERE’S WHAT YOU’RE MISSING …