Trump administration snubs Aspen Security Forum for second consecutive year

Defense Trump administration snubs Aspen Security Forum for second consecutive year Comments: by Ellen Mitchell - 07/15/26 10:38 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Ellen Mitchell - 07/15/26 10:38 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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The Trump administration for a second consecutive year has largely snubbed the Aspen Security Forum, with no senior Department of Defense (DOD) officials slated for attendance, the Pentagon confirmed to The Hill.

The Pentagon last year pulled military leaders slated to speak at the high-profile national security event only a day before it was set to start in Colorado. At the time, chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the event does not “align with the values of the DoD.”

“Our stance on the Aspen Forum has not changed,” acting DOD press secretary Joel Valdez said in a statement to The Hill on Tuesday.

Valdez also referred to a previous statement from the Pentagon, which claimed the four-day summit “promotes the evil of globalism, disdain for our great country, and hatred from the President of the United States.”

The Aspen Security Forum, billed as the “premier national security and foreign policy conference,” is one of the most high-profile of such events and for years has featured Republican and Democratic administration officials, business leaders and analysts.

During President Trump’s first term, several top officials including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended the forum.

Last year, more than a dozen administration officials were set to appear on several panels, but the Pentagon suddenly declared they would not attend and would not do so moving forward.

The lone administration official to attend the conference last year was Adam Boehler, Trump’s special envoy for hostage release.

This year there are three administration officials listed as speakers at the forum: Thomas Emanuel Dans, chair of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission; U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer; and Robert Lighthizer, chair of the Department of War Defense Policy Board.

Other speakers included in this year’s lineup are Mark Esper, an acting Defense secretary during Trump’s first term; Condoleezza Rice, a former national security adviser and secretary of State under former President George W. Bush; Karl Rove, a senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to Bush; and Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

Speakers are expected to cover a range of issues including the ongoing Iran war, U.S. strategy on Taiwan, Russia’s war in Ukraine, NATO, and how Trump’s policies have affected Washington’s alliances.