The US Army is investigating an active-duty soldier after he was found to be following a proscribed neo-Nazi terrorist group on TikTok. The private, a mortarman in the 1st Infantry Division, is one of just 30 followers of the Base's secretive recruitment account, which promotes assassination, sabotage, and plans for a so-called race war.
The Base has been designated a terrorist group by the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Experts say the case highlights how extremism may be going unchecked under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has halted a major counter-extremism initiative that targeted white nationalists in the ranks.
In February, the Department of Defense issued a memo suspending the initiative, citing incompatibility with Donald Trump's executive orders. This reversed policies introduced after the January 6 Capitol riot, when at least 151 attackers had military backgrounds. Those policies included a stand-down order and new rules on extremist activities and social media behaviour.
Joshua Fisher-Birch, a far-right analyst who spotted the soldier, said the Base and similar groups continue to prioritise military recruitment because combat experience is prized. He noted the TikTok account includes a statement supporting accelerationism and advises joining to exploit societal collapse.
Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said soldiers interested in the far right now have less to fear under Hegseth, who has his own ties to Christian nationalism. Critics warn that neglecting far-right extremism is dangerous, citing the Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, a former soldier.
The Army said it will not tolerate extremist activities and is investigating the matter. The soldier's Instagram account also shows him as an airsoft enthusiast and a re-enactor of Nazi-era German forces.
