Pentagon: No, troops not authorized to use force against Americans during election

The Pentagon clarified in a statement Thursday that U.S. troops are not authorized to use force against American citizens during the election.

In doing so, the Pentagon pushed back at suggestions by former Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to former President Trump.

“The policies concerning the use of force by DOD [Department of Defense] addressed in DoDD 5240.01 are not new, and do not authorize the DOD to use lethal force against U.S. citizens or people located inside the United States, contrary to rumors and rhetoric circulating on social media,” Pentagon spokesperson Sue Gough said in a statement to The Associated Press.

DOD directive 5240.01 applies to defense intelligence personal and explains what kind of support such officials can provide to law enforcement in situations where a confrontation or lethal use of force is likely, according to the AP.

The directive makes clear that while Defense intelligence personnel can provide intelligence, analysis, training, equipment and even weapons to civilian authorities in certain situations, they cannot themselves use force.

The Posse Comitatus Act makes the use of force by federal troops on U.S. citizens illegal, except in cases of self-defense.

In a post to his 4 million followers on social platform X, Kennedy claimed that the update to the directive was intended to interfere with this year's election and would authorize the use of force on U.S. citizens who protest government policies.

Gough said the timing of the updated directive was not related to the election.

Trump has inflated these rumors, saying that he would call the military on the “enemy from within,” which included far-left liberals. He doubled down on these comments but denied threatening anyone.