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Trump fires Secretary of Defense and many Pentagon officials leave
The removal of US Defense Secretary Mark Esper caused riots at the Pentagon; Media reports said Esper and Trump had long been grieving.
The 2020 US presidential election is not over yet and the controversy surrounding the election continues. A few days ago, current President Trump, who failed to take the lead in obtaining 270 electoral votes, began firing top federal officials. On November 9 local time, Trump announced on Twitter that US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had been fired and Christopher Miller, director of the US National Counter-Terrorism Center, would be acting secretary of defense.
According to multiple Defense Department sources, Trump and Esper have long been mourning. Esper had prepared his resignation a few weeks ago, hoping to “leave with dignity.”
According to the “Washington Post” report, Esper’s dismissal plunged the Pentagon into a new unease over the transfer of power between the two administrations, which has raised external concerns. Some people believe that some senior administration officials who have “contradicted” Trump may become the next target.
The relationship with the president is unrecoverable
On November 9 local time, Trump tweeted that Defense Secretary Mark Esper had been fired. According to CNN, shortly before Trump’s tweet, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows had a phone call with Esper and informed him of his firing.
According to various sources in the Defense Ministry, Esper was willing to resign, regardless of the final result of the general elections, he decided to leave with the hope of “leaving with dignity.”
The source noted that within the Pentagon, Esper’s exit plan is no longer a secret. He hopes to be able to work for the country as much as possible. However, his relationship with the president has deteriorated to an unrecoverable level.
Esper is the second Secretary of Defense in the Trump administration, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the United States Army during the Gulf War. On June 21, 2019, the White House announced in a statement that it appointed Secretary of the Army Esper as Secretary of Defense. On July 23 of the same year, the Senate confirmed Esper’s nomination and he was formally sworn in as Secretary of Defense.
Openly “against Trump”
According to various US media reports, Esper has had disagreements with Trump on multiple issues since he became Secretary of Defense in 2019. This is the biggest reason for his firing.
According to CNN, in late May, Freud, a black man, was violently executed by white police officers, sparking large-scale protests and demonstrations in the United States, which gradually turned into riots. Trump subsequently threatened to deploy active troops to quell the unrest and sought the support of the Pentagon, but Esper clearly voiced his opposition to the troop deployment at a press conference held at the Pentagon. This public act of “anti-Trump” provoked great discontent from Trump.
Since then, Trump has also publicly mocked Esper’s name and called him “Yesper.” Because Esper was too “submissive” to Trump, other Pentagon officials thought Esper was a “good sir” and nicknamed him “Yesper.”
In July, the Pentagon announced a policy to “ban the display of the Confederate flag on military bases and other Defense Department buildings.” Trump then angrily tweeted that “the Confederate flag is freedom of speech.”
According to the New York Times, Esper’s attitude toward epidemic prevention measures is different than Trump’s at the time of the new corona pneumonia epidemic. After the White House confirmed the cases one after another, Esper immediately donned a mask and strictly followed the guidelines issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Three senior officials of the Ministry of National Defense resigned the same day
On November 10 local time, the day after Trump announced Esper’s firing on Twitter, several senior Pentagon officials submitted their resignations.
So far, four high-ranking Defense Department officials have been fired or resigned, including Defense Secretary Esper, Under Secretary of Defense James Anderson, Under Secretary for Intelligence Affairs Joseph Kernan and Esper Chief of Staff Jan Stewart .
According to a statement from the United States Department of Defense, on the morning of November 10, local time, Anderson presented a letter of resignation to Trump, effective immediately. Anderson wrote in a farewell letter to all Department of Defense officials: “I know that no matter how the future unfolds, our team will persevere. I encourage everyone to focus on their tasks and not politicize the Department of Defense. No forget our oath when we take office. “
Kernan wrote in his farewell letter the same day: “I thank you all for your dedication to our country, and also thank you for your personal support over the past three years. My family and I have already planned this departure.” “
In addition, Esper’s chief of staff, Stewart, also tendered his resignation on November 10 local time.
According to the National Broadcasting Corporation, Trump’s “loyal subordinates” began assuming important positions in the Defense Department following Trump’s firing of Esper and the successive departure of three Defense Department officials.
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and Democrat Adam Smith said successive departures by three top officials indicate that the US Department of Defense is being “sabotaged” and should awaken the vigilance of all Americans. Smith emphasized that “Trump and his loyal subordinates are sowing the seeds of chaos and division. Currently, the Pentagon appears to be in chaos.”
■ Analysis
Transitional changes that Trump wants to “clear the way”
A Defense Ministry official said it appears that we have already finished the “beheading operation.” CNN explained that the “beheading operation” described by this official refers to the expulsion of several senior officials, including Esper.
However, this move may cause chaos within the Pentagon, and defense officials are increasingly concerned that it may have a negative impact on US national security during the government transition period.
The source believes that after Esper was fired by Trump, the White House is focusing on dealing with the remaining members of Esper’s team, and the Trump administration may take action or work with Esper and his team to postpone the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan. related.
On October 7 local time, Trump issued a document stating that US troops in Afghanistan should withdraw to the United States before Christmas this year, but the Defense Ministry did not express its “approval” and said no. there is a specific plan for complete withdrawal in the short term.
Currently, Pentagon military and civilian officials are concerned that the Trump administration is trying to “clear the way” to allow it to re-implement certain policies opposed by the Department of Defense, including the deployment of service troops. active in quelling protests and demonstrations, and pulling US troops out of Afghanistan before Christmas. Evacuation, etc.
Zhang Jiadong, a professor at Fudan University’s Center for American Studies and vice president of the Shanghai Society for International Strategic Affairs, said Trump’s firing of Defense Secretary Esper could cause chaos within the Pentagon. During the administration’s turbulent transition period, Trump needs to “create” Chaos has come to seek re-election.
■ Link
No one in the Trump family admits defeat
On November 7 local time, the US media reported that Biden was the first to win the election by winning 270 electoral votes. However, four days later, Trump, the current US president and Republican presidential candidate, has yet to admit defeat. Analysts believe that based on the current vote gap between the two candidates, it is almost impossible for Trump to reverse the current results. But the suspense is when Trump will admit defeat.
For one thing, the Trump campaign is still trying to use prosecutions in key states to blame the vote count problem; On the other hand, Trump himself has republished numerous tweets alleging that there are problems with counting on Twitter. Insist on saying “we will win.”
Two days ago, CNN reported that Trump’s wife, Melania, had privately advised Trump to accept defeat. But then Melania declared publicly that “all legitimate votes must be counted, not illegal votes. Our democracy must be protected through full transparency.”
Ivanka, Trump’s daughter, also voiced the same voice. After the election, he tweeted: “All legally cast votes must be counted. All illegal votes are not. Must be counted. This must not be controversial.”
Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House adviser Kushner once suggested that Trump seriously consider the strategy of admitting defeat. But then the “New York Times” reported that Kushner did not advise Trump to admit defeat, but instead encouraged him to take a “legal approach.” Trump’s two sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Jr., are as persistent as their parents and still publicly criticize the counting process on Twitter.
A senior Republican official told The Washington Post: “Nobody really thinks the outcome will change. He (Trump) also plays golf on the weekend, and it seems like he hasn’t planned how to prevent Joe Biden from playing next year.” Take power on October 20 “,” He’s still filing lawsuits and tweeting, these lawsuits will fail, and then he’ll post some tweets about the ‘stolen election’, and then he’s gone. “
Beijing News reporter Qian Yazhuo Xie Lian
