Petty Officer 2nd Class Wilbert Joseph Castañeda, an active-duty Navy sailor, appeared on stage at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas on Thursday. Dressed in a black suit and red tie rather than his military uniform, Castañeda joined several other individuals on stage while holding a sign detailing the duration of his imprisonment in Venezuela. He did not deliver any remarks during the event.
The appearance of a service member at a partisan political gathering has prompted scrutiny regarding the military’s enforcement of policies that restrict active-duty personnel from participating in political events. Defense Department Directive 1344.10 permits service members to hold personal political opinions and vote, but it strictly prohibits active-duty troops from participating in partisan rallies or conventions. While service members may attend such events as spectators if they are not in uniform and their presence cannot be construed as an official endorsement, the line between spectator and participant is a critical distinction in military regulations.
Cody Harnish, a former Army Judge Advocate General officer and current defense attorney, noted that while sitting in the audience would have been permissible, stepping on stage as part of the production crossed the boundary into participation. The Department of Defense maintains that these regulations are essential to preserving the apolitical nature of the armed forces and upholding public trust.
The circumstances surrounding Castañeda’s participation remain unclear, and it is not known whether Navy leadership authorized his presence. Neither Castañeda nor the Pentagon provided comment when contacted regarding the event. A Navy special warfare official confirmed that while Castañeda remains on active duty, he is no longer a Navy SEAL; his status was revoked due to performance issues, and he is no longer authorized to wear the Trident insignia.
Castañeda’s history with the military includes enlistment in April 2007 and service in special warfare units between 2009 and 2022, during which he earned three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. His recent years have been marked by significant controversy. In August 2024, he was arrested in a Caracas hotel while visiting a friend. Although Venezuelan officials initially alleged he was involved in a coup, they later abandoned the claim due to a lack of evidence.
Following his detention, Castañeda was freed last year as part of a prisoner exchange involving the return of 252 Venezuelans from a Salvadoran prison. His family has described him as a political pawn of the Maduro regime, noting that he suffered traumatic brain injuries during his 18-year career that impacted his judgment. He has undergone evaluations for both physical and psychological trauma related to his captivity.
The military is currently managing other cases involving the intersection of service and political conduct. Air Force Maj. Jason Watson is facing charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for failing to obey regulations, including an incident where he called for the impeachment of President Trump while in uniform at the U.S. Capitol. Watson’s case has drawn comparisons to that of former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who pleaded guilty to charges in 2021 after posting videos criticizing military leadership regarding the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
During the convention, an announcer introduced the group on stage by stating, “Please welcome brave Americans who were taken hostage during the Biden administration and freed last year by President Trump.” The event was designed to rally support for GOP candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The report also notes that holding a sign before the partisan crowd, raises questions about the military’s consistency in enforcing restrictions intended to keep active-duty troops out of politics, his appearance at the event. The report also notes that castañeda held a sign showing how many days he was held in Venezuela. The report also notes that the military’s statement from Wednesday appears to indicate Castañeda at some point received a reduction in rank from petty officer first class to petty officer second class. The report also notes that undergoing the grueling process to become a Navy SEAL, according to his service record, which the Navy provided, castañeda enlisted in the Navy in April 2007. The report also notes that official said and other news outlets in 2024 that Castañeda was not on approved leave by the U.S. The report also notes that in August 2024, Casteñeda was arrested in his Caracas hotel room while he was in Venezuela visiting a friend, according to a 2025 press release issued by his advocates.
