Who is the Commander in Chief of the United States?

• A. General Berger
• B. The Honorable Donald Trump
• C. General John A. Lejeune
• D. The President's Own

Answer: (B)

The Commander in Chief is the sitting President of the United States—the civilian leader who has final authority over the armed forces. This arrangement, established by the Constitution, ensures civilian control of the military. Military officers, like a General who leads a service branch, command units and execute orders, but they do not hold the title of Commander in Chief. The term “The President’s Own” refers to a musical unit, not a person in charge of the military. Because the presidency can change, the person who is Commander in Chief changes with who is president at any given time; a former president would only have that role during their term in office. So, the correct understanding is that the Commander in Chief is the current president.