Trump joined the fray, calling for Milley's resignation two days after it was reported that they had been in a verbal altercation in the Situation Room last year over the former president's plans to deal with protesters.The turnaround was remarkable for a man many thought of as just another Trump henchman a year ago. However, current and former defense officials who are familiar with Milleys thinking claim that the Joint Chiefs chair did not intend to become involved in politics but it has been forced upon him repeatedly.Gen. Milley has tried to keep the military from politics, I believe. These incidents reflect the difficult political environment he is operating in, rather than indicating that he has changed his mind about anything.Gen. Dunford said that Milley did everything he could to adapt to President Trump's needs and serve him appropriately, Now Gen. Milley does that for President Biden.Trump's former Defense Secretary Mark Esper came to Milleys defence on Wednesday. He wrote on Twitter that the chairs' patriotism is unquestioned and their commitment to the Constitution were without question.It is wrong to try and denigrate Esper or politicize the military. Esper stated that I will stand by him and the US military.Milley was criticized by former defense officials for involving the military again in politics, even though that was not his intention.Kori Schake, director of foreign policy and defense at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, stated that General Milley is trying to navigate the turbulent political waters and keep military out of the fray. He allowed himself to be drawn into supporting Trump in Lafayette Square. On reflection, I believe he did too much in his recent testimony, allowing himself to be drawn into issues that were not military.Despite his best efforts Milley is unable to keep the political fracas under control. Milley and Esper were headed to another meeting on June 1, 2020 when they were diverted to the White House. He didn't know that Milley was heading toward a photo shoot as he walked alongside Trump in his combat uniform. He thought he was going to be with Trump and his entourage to inspect the National Guard troops and other law enforcement outside the White House.Gen. Dunford stated that Milley wasn't making a political statement, but he did not make a conscious choice to travel there to participate in what was a politically charged event. Milley admitted that he was probably in a place that he did not want to be.This fateful walk triggered a series of events that strained the relationship between Milley, his boss and Milley. Milley repeatedly asked Trump to not deploy active-duty troops in order to restore order ahead of the June 1 protests.A fiery exchange between Trump and Milley over the issue occurred last summer. The details of that exchange will be included in a forthcoming book by Michael Bender at The Wall Street Journals, Axios reported. The New York Times reported the incident first, but Bender's book may contain new details. According to Axios, Milley claimed that he was an advisor and not in command."I said that you are in f---ing control!" Trump was reportedly heard shouting during the episode. Milley responded, "Well, you're not in charge!""You can't f---ing speak to me like this!" According to the excerpt, the president stated these words. After William Barr, then-Attorney General, told Trump that Milley was correct, the incident was settled.Milley faced immediate backlash after the Lafayette Square incident. Former top military officers, including Jim Mattis, and Democratic politicians criticized Milley for improperly politicizing military affairs. Milley later apologised, saying that he shouldn't have been there.Milley presented the same argument to Trump months later, before the Jan. 6 protests, and urged him to not invoke the Insurrection Act for active-duty troops to be deployed in Washington, D.C., the defense officer said.Milley seems to have managed the transition between Trump, who knew Milley well, and Biden so far. Biden, like Trump, has not always followed Milley's advice. Milley advised the president not to withdraw from Afghanistan in May, which Biden announced in May. However, people close to Milley say that he believes his advice was heard.Milley is now under fire from the opposition, even though he has been in office for months. After Reps. Matt Gaetz, Michael Waltz and others accused the Pentagon with encouraging critical race theory and reducing unit cohesion within armed forces, Milley was furious with conservatives. Milley responded by defending the military's study of all theories and countering GOP criticisms of the Pentagon's efforts combat racism and extremism within the ranks as making them too "woke."Milley stated that Milley found it offensive that the United States military is being accused of being 'woke'. Milley was referring to theories that have been developed."I have read Mao Tse Tung. Karl Marx is a book I have read. I have read Lenin. Milley said that this doesn't make you a communist. Milley continued, "So what's wrong with understanding, having some understanding of the country we are here to defend?"Trump attacked Milley over the remarks. He first called them "sad and pathetic" last week and then said on Wednesday that Milley made these comments to "further inratiate himself" with Biden's administration, "progressive Media" and "the Radical Left."Trump sent a statement via his Save America PAC, saying that Gen. Milley should resign and be replaced by someone who is willing to defend our Military against the Leftist Radicals who have hated our Country and Flag.These comments were made as Milley is ridiculed by conservative lawmakers and far-right commentators. Gaetz called Milley chairman of the woketopia. Tucker Carlson, Fox News anchor, said that Milley isn't just stupid but a pig.John Gans, an ex-Pentagon official in the Obama administration noted that some critics felt that Milley had tended to follow the political winds, depending on which side is at power. He said that the most recent comments were an answer to retweets and Milley might have been better served if he moved on to more substantive topics.He said that the debate is not a change in Milleys thinking but a reflection of the increasingly polarized political climate in the country.Gans stated that it is difficult to lead a military in a country where the partisanship is so extreme, people are storming Capitol.Milley's friends and family say that he wasn't trying to make a political point. According to a defense official, Milley would have answered the same question if asked during Trump's administration. This official, like others, asked not to be identified in order to be candid. Milley felt that the institution of the army was under attack after being subject to repeated attacks from conservatives over the past weeks, according to the person.Gen. Gans stated that Milley tried his best to walk through the raindrops from Donald Trump's Washington and the post-Trump Washington but he always ends up getting soaked wherever he goes. This is a sign of how dangerous and intense this environment can be. I believe Milley and the military want to avoid politics but politics is not staying away from the military.A spokesperson for the Joint Staff declined to comment on this article.Dunford also supported Milley's comments and stressed that the general gave a candid answer under oath to lawmakers.Dunford stated that he did not advocate for any political positions in the interview.Dunford said that he is confident in General Milley's nonpartisan approach to his duties. I have never seen him participate in partisan politics.Dunford responded to criticisms from conservatives that increasing diversity in the military would be detrimental to the armed forces. He said that the United States does not need a greater force to fight wars and that it is possible to do more than one thing.Dunford also lamented that the military is being politicized, calling it a slippery slope. He said he shared Milley's concern that the armed forces are caught up in a partisan political dialog.He said that if the U.S. army is perceived as a Democrat- or Republican institution, I don't think anyone of us would be well-served. The U.S. Military should be considered a part of American life, regardless of political affiliation.
