Army Suspends Fort McCoy’s First Female Commander After Trump Portrait Controversy

The U.S. Army has placed Col. Sheyla Baez Ramirez on suspension, marking a significant moment as she is the first woman to lead Fort McCoy in Wisconsin. This decision comes in the wake of a political controversy ignited by a viral image that depicted portraits of former President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth turned backward on the base’s chain of command display.

The Army announced Baez Ramirez’s suspension in a statement on Fort McCoy’s website, noting that there is an ongoing review and clarifying that the decision was "not related to any misconduct." An image posted by an official Pentagon social media account sparked significant right-wing criticism and intensified online demands for her dismissal.

"Concerning the Ft. McCoy chain of command wall issue … we have resolved it!" the Pentagon account shared on April 14, noting that an investigation was in progress.

While Baez Ramirez has not been associated with the flipped portraits, she has emerged as the target of online assaults, with many aimed at her gender and Puerto Rican background. Certain users branded her as a “DEI traitor,” linking the controversy to a broader political opposition to diversity initiatives within the military.

Baez Ramirez took command of Fort McCoy in July 2024 and has served with honor since her commissioning in 1999. Her suspension occurs alongside an increasing trend of notable dismissals of female and minority officers during Defense Secretary Hegseth’s tenure. The list features Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, among others.

Military sources informed Military.com that there is no evidence suggesting Baez Ramirez was connected to the incident. The Army Reserve referred to the alteration of the display as “vandalism” despite the absence of any reported damage. An acting commander has yet to be appointed.

As the investigation unfolds, Baez Ramirez’s supporters describe the backlash as an unfair political attack on a respected officer, reflecting the increasing tensions in the current military culture wars.