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Trump’s DOD reacts to gay military drama ‘Boots’: Netflix produces “woke garbage”
Photo #7356 October 18 2025, 08:15

The Pentagon responded to Netflix’s hit series Boots this week, accusing the streamer of producing “woke garbage.”

Based on author Greg Cope White’s 2015 memoir The Pink Marine, the show centers on a closeted gay teen’s (out actor Miles Heizer) experience of boot camp at the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, in 1990, prior to the implementation of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Released earlier this month, the eight-episode series from the late legendary TV producer Norman Lear has remained in Netflix’s Top 10 shows in the U.S. since its debut, and is currently ranked at #2.

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Despite a generally favorable response from fans and critics — one reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter even described it as something of a “recruitment ad” for the U.S. military — according to Entertainment Weekly, a spokesperson for the Pentagon had nothing nice to say about Boots.

In response to the outlet’s inquiry about the series, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson sent a statement touting the Trump administration’s policies — which have included reinstating a ban on transgender people serving openly and removing slain gay rights icon Harvey Milk’s name from a U.S. Navy ship  — and criticizing Netflix.

“Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos,” Wilson’s statement read. “Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn’t care if you’re a man, a woman, gay, or straight.”

While Wilson did not appear to address Boots directly, he added that military officials “will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”

It’s unclear what “ideological agenda” Wilson was referring to. Netflix has produced and released LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming series like Heartstopper, Queer Eye, and Tales of the City alongside multiple stand-up specials from anti-trans comics Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais.

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