Drama has hit a U.S. Army base in Wisconsin after reports surfaced that an Army commander was suspended after portraits of Donald Trump were flipped over.
According to NBC News, Fort McCoy’s leadership posted an official statement on the base’s website confirming the suspension of Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez. The suspension comes after portraits of former President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were found flipped toward the wall on the base’s chain of command wall.
Although officials were quick to state that Baez Ramirez’s suspension is not tied to misconduct and is unrelated to the incident, they didn’t offer additional details because the situation remains under review.
On April 14, the Department of Defense posted images on X (formerly Twitter) that caught everybody’s eye. The photos showed both Donald Trump’s and Pete Hegseth’s portraits turned backward at the base’s chain of command wall.
The Department of Defense captioned the image with, “Regarding the Ft. McCoy Chain of Command wall controversy … WE FIXED! Also, an investigation has begun to figure out exactly what happened.”
Who Is Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez
Colonel Sheyla Baez Ramirez made history as the first female garrison commander of Fort McCoy when she assumed the role in July 2024. Before that, she served as Chief of the Reserve Program at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Known for her commitment to service and leadership, Baez Ramirez’s career had been largely without public controversy—until now.
An updated statement from Fort McCoy claims the suspension stems from “administrative matters” unrelated to the chain of command wall controversy. Still, the timing has many raising eyebrows and asking deeper questions about the real story behind the decision.
“Col. Sheyla Baez-Ramirez was suspended as Fort McCoy Garrison Commander on April 18, 2025, for administrative reasons. As previously stated, she was not suspended for misconduct.
The investigation into the Leader Board incident at Fort McCoy is ongoing. To reiterate, no one on the Fort McCoy leadership team, which includes Col. Baez-Ramirez, directed or supported the removal of any leader portraits. The Leader Board was corrected upon notification of the issue.
We have no further details to provide at this time while this matter is under review.”
Located in Wisconsin, Fort McCoy is one of the U.S. Army’s major training centers. It supports both active duty and reserve forces, playing a key role in preparing service members for missions around the world.
Given its national importance, any public controversy at Fort McCoy inevitably draws attention from military insiders, political figures, and everyday Americans alike.
Leadership at the base emphasized that it remains committed to maintaining professionalism and discipline during the ongoing review process regarding Colonel Baez Ramirez’s suspension.
