Former President Donald Trump railed against a report that suggested that military service could be made mandatory during a second Trump stint in the White House.

A Washington Post report Tuesday detailed the idea of Christopher Miller, Mr. Trump’s former defense secretary, to create a national service mandate “and other measures to remedy what they see as a ‘crisis’ facing the all-volunteer military.”

Mr. Trump called the story “ridiculous” and “completely untrue.”

“The Fake News Washington Post came up with the ridiculous idea that Donald J. Trump will call for Mandatory Military Service,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday. “This is only a continuation of their eight year failed attempt to damage me with the Voters.”

“The Story is completely untrue. In fact, I never even thought of that idea. Only a degenerate Newspaper, which has lost 50% of its Readers, would fabricate such a tale,” he said. “Just another Fake Story, one of many, made up by the DEAD Washington Compost!”

The Post wrote that in an interview, Mr. Miller said the military requirement should be “strongly considered,” and the idea is a part of the Heritage Foundation’s conservative Project 2025 government plan.

The report also added that the former president “has not publicly endorsed” the policy proposals.

Mr. Trump’s campaign declined to comment to the outlet over whether he supports mandatory military service, and top advisers said that any policy or staffing ideas would only be discussed by Mr. Trump himself or “an authorized member” of the reelection campaign team.

Military service in the United States is voluntary, but most men ages 18-35 must register for the Selective Service, for use in case of a draft.

The country hasn’t had a draft since 1973 and it would require an act of Congress to bring one back.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.