A U.S. Army First Lieutenant decided to go out with a bang and spit in the face of the Commander-in-Chief and every American who has ever thanked a service member for their sacrifice.
The Gateway Pundit has identified the man in the viral video as Patrick Kyser, who identifies as gay and says he served in the U.S. Army for 14 years.
“So today is my last day wearing this uniform, and I just wanted to say from the bottom of my heart, f*ck Donald Trump,” Kyser said in the clip.
WATCH:
Kyser accompanied the video with a caption criticizing the Trump administration’s military and foreign policy.
“In the past 14 years, I’ve heard ‘thank you for your service’ many times. The best way to show your thanks to our troops is to vote for politicians who will only put them in harm’s way when absolutely necessary. Not to serve their own egos.”
The video quickly ignited a wave of criticism online, with many users arguing that a commissioned officer should not publicly attack the Commander-in-Chief while still in uniform.
One widely shared response read:
“This Lieutenant is still subject to UCMJ even if it’s his last day in the Army. He’s a disgrace to the uniform. Dishonorable discharge & send him to Fort Leavenworth.”
Others questioned whether Kyser remained subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) at the time the video was recorded, while some defended his right to express his political views after completing his military service.
A service member remains fully subject to the UCMJ until their official military discharge process is complete and their final separation time takes effect (typically midnight on their official separation date).
So, if Patrick Kyser was still an active-duty first lieutenant when he made the video, the Army could theoretically have had jurisdiction to investigate whether the conduct violated the UCMJ.
Whether any action would actually be taken would depend on the timing, the precise facts, and the judgment of the military chain of command. If his discharge had already become effective, the UCMJ generally would no longer apply to this new conduct.
The Gateway Pundit has reached out to the Department of War for comment regarding Kyser’s viral video and whether any disciplinary action is being considered. The Gateway Pundit has also reached out to Patrick Kyser for comment.
