Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley drafted his resignation in June 2020 after the infamous photo shoot of former President Donald Trump In front of a burned church near the White House — before having a change of heart and vowing to oppose the 45th president "from within." He accused the military of using the military to "instill fear in the hearts of the people" and claimed that the then president "made a long and coordinated effort to politicize the U.S. military."
"I thought I could change that," continued the general. "I realized that I can't do it myself. I need to step aside and let someone else do it." Reprinted by Peter Baker and Susan Glasser
according to the authors On June 1, 2020, Millie was criticized for accompanying Trump's part and considered resigning on a road crossing Lafayette Square afterBlack Lives Matter protesters were clearedon June 1, 2020. .
Realizing that Millie shouldn't be there, he silently got into his waiting black Chevrolet Suburban and exited. Baker and Glasser note that Millie is depicted in combat uniform and walking a few steps behind Trump, write Baker and Glasser. is at war with itself.
Ultimately, Millie chose to stay after consulting several elected military officials — with his predecessor as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford. Including former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates — who reportedly told both Millie and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper: "If you quit, talk for a day. If you get fired, you're right."
Baker and Glasser, both Millie and Esper, and then Attorney General Bill Barr, joined the riots of 1807 to quell DC protests that escalated after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. It invoked the law and resisted Trump's demands to deploy 10,000 active-duty troops.
"We look weak," said Trump, enraged that his advisers were "losers," and told Millie, "Can't you shoot them? Just shoot them in the leg or something."
Millie publicly apologized for appearing in Lafayette Square on June 11, 2020 to give a Commencement Address at National Defense College and said: At that moment, my presence in that environment created a perception of the military engaging in domestic politics.
Privately, Baker and Glasser said Millie told staff Trump's "F-that, I'll just fight him." If you want to go to jail or whatever, do it," Millie reportedly added. "But I will fight from the inside."
This excerpt alleges that Trump had a difficult relationship with the Pentagon, from which he expected unwavering loyalty.
"If you act like a general, why can't you be a German general?" According to Baker and Glasser, Trump asked then-White House Chief of Staff John Kerry said at some point.
"Which general?" asked Kelly.
"German generals during World War II." Trump reportedly replied.
When Kerry told Trump that Hitler's generals had tried to kill him on three occasions, the president brushed it off, saying, "No, no, no, they completely killed him." I was loyal to
In "The Divider," which is set to release on September 20, President Trump exchanged with then-Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller three days before his riots in the Capitol last year. It also features a recollection of the conversation.
In an excerpt released Monday, Millie said Trump told the Mirror that he thought the planned Jan. 6 "Stop theft" rally "would be a big deal." He was reportedly heard telling
"You have enough people to make sure it's safe for my men, right?" Trump then asked, to which Miller replied he did. According to the author, Millie never met Trump in person again.
