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Timothy Snyder warns Trump may be bribing military with budget boost

writersApr 5, 2026769

Historian Timothy Snyder warned that President Trump is using a proposed 50% increase in defense spending to buy military loyalty. Snyder said the boost could effectively bribe the armed forces to support a potential coup. He added that a staged domestic terror attack could be used to nullify elections and justify such a power grab. Those claims matter because they allege direct threats to civil military norms and to American democracy.

Key Highlights

Timothy Snyder warned a 50% defense budget rise could buy military loyalty.
Snyder said a staged domestic terror attack could be used to nullify elections.
His warnings highlight risks to civil military relations and democratic stability.
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