How Trump’s Iran war is driving military dissent

This episode of The Take explores growing dissent within the U.S. military over President Trump's escalating war with Iran, highlighting a surge in conscientious objector filings and veteran-led protests. As the U.S. deploys 10,000 troops to the Strait of Hormuz and rumors of automatic draft registration surface, service members are questioning their roles, citing moral opposition to civilian casualties—particularly the bombing of the Manab Girl School—and distrust in leadership, including figures like Pete Hegseth and J.D. Vance. The Center on Conscience and War reports a dramatic spike in calls from service members, many of whom are taking concrete steps to leave the military due to a profound shift in conscience, driven by exposure to the realities of modern warfare through social media and global events like the war in Gaza. The episode also examines how Pentagon policies targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion—such as banning Black History Month and expelling Black service members with skin conditions—have deepened alienation among minority troops, undermining morale and cohesion. Protesters, including veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, have engaged in civil disobedience at the Capitol, demanding Congress end funding for what they describe as an illegal and immoral war. The discussion underscores a pivotal moment in American military culture: a growing belief that a truly moral army is impossible when the U.S. military operates as an instrument of foreign aggression rather than national defense. With over 100 service members filing conscientious objector claims in just one month—more than in any comparable period during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars—it’s clear that moral resistance is no longer a fringe phenomenon. The episode concludes with a powerful challenge to the idea of military loyalty without ethical accountability, urging both service members and the public to recognize and exercise their rights to refuse participation in unjust wars.