US Air Force Major Jason Watson Detained Again After Criticising Trump in CNN Interview
US Air Force Major Jason Watson, who was arrested last month after calling for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, has been detained again days after publicly criticising the president in a CNN interview.
Watson was ordered into pretrial confinement on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, according to a US Air Force spokesperson. He is currently being held at a county facility in Maryland under a military hold.
The Air Force said Watson’s detention followed probable cause supporting allegations of continued misconduct, although authorities have not disclosed the specific allegations against him.
“Based on probable cause to support allegations of continued misconduct, Maj. Watson was ordered into pretrial confinement on Aug. 18, 2026,” the spokesperson said.
The Air Force also stressed that Watson is presumed innocent and will be afforded his rights as his pretrial confinement is reviewed.
Watson’s attorney, Chris Mutimer, said he had not yet spoken with his client but suspected that the major’s recent appearance on CNN may have contributed to the decision to detain him.
Watson spoke with CNN’s Erin Burnett on Monday, where he strongly criticised Trump and repeated his call for the president to be impeached and removed from office.
“What is happening with President Trump is not normal. He has failed us,” Watson said.
He accused Trump of violating the US Constitution, breaking the law, engaging in corruption and “killing Americans,” saying such conduct should be unacceptable to the public.
Public political dissent by active-duty US military personnel is uncommon because service members are subject to military regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Article 88 of the code criminalises contemptuous words against certain senior US officials, including the president, vice president and members of Congress. The Air Force also distanced itself from Watson’s political statements.
“Maj. Watson’s personal statements do not reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Air Force,” the agency said.
Watson was previously arrested on July 1 on the steps of the US Capitol after delivering a speech calling for the impeachment and removal of Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
US Capitol Police said at the time that members of the public could not demonstrate on the steps of the House unless accompanied by a member of Congress.
Police said Watson had been escorted to the steps by a member of Congress, who subsequently left the area.
Watson was wearing his military uniform during the demonstration, despite military regulations prohibiting service members from wearing uniforms while participating in political activities.
However, he had not been charged at the time with an infraction specifically connected to the demonstration.
Speaking to CNN earlier this week, Watson acknowledged that his decision to publicly oppose the administration could come with serious consequences.
“We just have to be willing to accept that we can change what is happening in our country if we’re just willing to pay a price for it,” he said.
He added that he had considered the highest price he was willing to pay for speaking out and had decided to continue making his position known.
The circumstances surrounding Watson’s latest detention remain unclear, as the Air Force has yet to disclose the specific misconduct allegations against him.
