Trump has gotten requests before. But this is incredibly surprising.
And a former professional athlete made an earth shattering request to President Trump.
Former NBA powerhouse Dwight Howard has thrown his support behind a radical idea: making military service mandatory for every American citizen for at least one year. The former NBA All-Star didn’t hold back, sharing his unfiltered opinion on X this past Sunday, igniting a firestorm of reactions from everyday folks and celebrities alike.
Howard, known for his dominating presence on the basketball court, believes this policy could be a game-changer for the country. He argues it would instill much-needed discipline and structure in a society that’s grown too soft in recent years.
Drawing from examples abroad, he points out how other nations have successfully implemented similar requirements without collapsing into chaos.
“Random. I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America. A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure. I’m curious what y’all think would this help America or nah,” he stated.
Random. I honestly feel like the president should make one year of service mandatory for everyone born in America. A lot of other countries do it. And I think it would help with discipline and structure. I’m curious what yall think would this help America or nah.
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) December 29, 2025
Not everyone is buying into Howard’s vision, though. A wave of pushback flooded the comments, with many Americans fiercely defending their freedoms against what they see as unnecessary government intrusion. Critics argue that true character isn’t built through forced labor but through personal choice and incentives.
One user summed up the unease perfectly, highlighting the hypocrisy in the proposal. “It always seems kind of gross, though, for people who aren’t serving to force other people to do so,” the individual said.
Another commenter drilled down on the core American value of liberty, insisting that mandates aren’t the way to foster patriotism.
“Discipline comes from within, not a government mandate. Free people don’t need to be conscripted to serve. Offer incentives for voluntary service (tax breaks, training) and watch people step up,” they said.
Skeptics also questioned the practicality, noting that the U.S. isn’t facing the same threats as smaller or more vulnerable countries. They contend this isn’t about defense but an overreach disguised as tough love.
“Other countries do it for security reasons, or they need the manpower. Either they face constant threats of attack, or they’re small and can’t field a military with only volunteers. We have neither. No country on Earth forces military service to just ‘build discipline,’” another user stated.
Amid the backlash, some voices are stepping up in agreement, seeing Howard’s idea as a vital step toward reclaiming traditional values.
Former ESPN firebrand Sage Steele jumped into the fray, endorsing a version of the plan that emphasizes turning boys into men through rigorous training.
“I’ve always said a military type boot camp would be amazing for young men-who will quickly learn to become MEN. Structure. Accountability. Leadership. Priceless! And some sort of comm. service for women who don’t want to do boot camp. Double all of it for immigrants,” Steele stated.
Her take adds a layer of grit to the discussion, focusing on how such a program could enforce accountability and leadership skills that seem lacking in today’s youth.
Steele’s emphasis on immigrants doubles down on a populist priority: ensuring newcomers earn their place.
Of course, implementing this wouldn’t be easy. Logistics alone—from training facilities to exemptions for health issues—would demand strong leadership from a president like Trump, who’s no stranger to shaking up the status quo.
As the conversation unfolds, it’s clear Howard has struck a nerve. Whether it leads to policy changes or just more online battles remains to be seen.
