CNN analysts cast a disapproving eye Wednesday on U.S. soldiers in Iraq who asked President Trump to sign their red “Make America Great Again” hats at his surprise Christmas appearance.

“Troops bringing Trump hats to sign may violate military rule,” said the Wednesday night headline on the CNN website.

On CNN’s “The Situation Room” with Jim Acosta, former Obama administration official and retired Rear Admiral John Kirby called it “completely inappropriate” for troops to seek autographs on the hats popularized in the 2016 Trump presidential campaign.

“It is, in fact, a campaign slogan, that is a campaign item, and it’s completely inappropriate for the troops to do this,” Mr. Kirby said. “Not supposed to do this. And I’m sure their boss is seeing that. They’re not going to be happy about it.”