Former NBA star Dwight Howard urged President Donald Trump to consider making military service mandatory for U.S. citizens, arguing that the policy could help restore discipline in American society.
Howard shared the idea in a "random" Sunday night post on X, saying compulsory service would benefit the country by instilling "discipline and structure."
The eight-time NBA All-Star, who was recently inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, pointed to other nations that already require their citizens to serve.
"I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America," Howard wrote. "A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure."
The suggestion sparked immediate backlash on social media, with critics questioning Howard's credibility and motivation.
"Millionaire who has never served and now has aged out of the possibility of serving thinks you should HAVE to be in the military now," one user wrote.
Another dismissed the post as the "dumbest [expletive] you've said in a long time," while others challenged Howard to "lead by example" and enlist himself.
Howard never served in the military, having spent nearly his entire adult life playing basketball. He was drafted into the NBA directly from high school as the No. 1 overall pick in 2004.
Not everyone shot down Howard's idea, however.
Celebrity jeweler Ben Baller voiced support for the proposal, calling it "not a terrible idea" and citing South Korea as an example of a country that requires mandatory service.
"The new gen has become way too soft," Baller said. "Korea has been doing it and you cannot avoid it or else you can't enter the country."
The closest Howard ever got to military service was in 2023 when he was a contestant on "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test."
The Fox reality show was led by former special forces operatives who put celebrity contestants through grueling training courses in harsh environments.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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