<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A major in the Air Force was criminally charged on August 25, 2026, for protesting against President Donald Trump, allegedly violating Pentagon regulations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Jason Watson has been detained twice for his actions, first on July 1, when he called for Trump’s impeachment while in uniform on the U.S. Capitol steps, and again last week after giving a CNN interview in which he criticized Trump’s presidency.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Watson’s attorney stated that he faces three charges related to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), including allegations of violating regulations that prohibit military personnel from engaging in partisan speech, disobeying orders, and conduct unbecoming of an officer while wearing his uniform during the protest.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that Watson will remain in pre-trial confinement and emphasized that service members are entitled to due process and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Watson has been charged under UCMJ Articles 88, 92, and 133.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to attorney Christopher Mutimer, Watson is one of the first officers of his rank to be charged under Article 88, which addresses making “contemptuous” remarks about the president. The charges are based on Watson's June interview with the Defenders of Our Republic newsletter, his protest at the Capitol, and the CNN interview conducted on August 17.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">During the Capitol protest, Watson was initially accompanied by Rep. Al Green (D-TX) but was arrested after Green left, as regulations prohibit protests on the Capitol steps without the presence of a lawmaker.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Watson, who is three years away from retirement after serving 17 years in the Air Force, is expected to have his trial overseen by the Air Force District of Washington if the case proceeds to a general court-martial.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Mutimer stated that Watson believes in the Constitution and the oath he took, asserting that his actions were intended to support others who may feel isolated in their beliefs.</p>