The return of an American military draft would seem rather unlikely. After all, the U.S. was at war for many years in Iraq and Afghanistan, both military engagements that required lots of troops, and not only was the draft never reinstituted, but the subject was never seriously broached.
Still, the top of a new draft was broached over the weekend, as the military adventure in Iran continues for a second week.
In an appearance on Fox News this week, as reported by HuffPost, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed that possibility.
Karoline Leavitt doesn’t rule out a draft.
BARTIROMO: Trump had an interesting exchange about troops on the ground. Moms are worried we’re gonna have a draft and see their kids get involved in this. What do you want to say about the president’s plan for troops on the ground?
LEAVITT: President Trump wisely does not… pic.twitter.com/zvF8YeWzTn
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 8, 2026
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Leavitt’s answer was to say, “President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table.”
Trump, earlier in the week, had refused to rule out the use of ground troops in Iran.
“We haven’t talked about it,” Trump said. “At some point, maybe we will. It would be a great thing. Right now, we’re just decimating them. We haven’t gone after it but something we could do later on.”
This drew considerable attention, including from former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a strong critic of the Iran adventure.
“Karoline Leavitt doesn’t rule out a draft,” Greene wrote on X. “How about the answer is NO DRAFT AND NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND because we campaigned on NO MORE FOREIGN WARS OR REGIME CHANGE!!! Liars every single one of them! Not my son, over my dead body!!!!!”
“Mothers out there are worried we’re going to have a draft, that they’re going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this,” Fox host Maria Bartiromo asked Leavitt. “What do you want to say about the president’s plan for troops on the ground?”
How about the answer is NO DRAFT AND NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND because we campaigned on NO MORE FOREIGN WARS OR REGIME CHANGE!!!
Liars every single one of them!
Not my son, over my dead body!!!!!
pic.twitter.com/UTLn4WXFRV— Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@FmrRepMTG) March 8, 2026
Once again, Leavitt did not promise or announce the return of a military draft, and the institution of one is unlikely to take place anytime soon.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
