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CNN confirmed that Trump decided to fire or pressure several military and civilian employees at the ministry to leave, and replace them with employees loyal to him, hours after the termination of Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s services and the appointment of Christopher Miller. as his successor, in a move that raised the concern of officials. The Pentagon and the leaders of the Democratic Party.
Four top officials have left since Monday, Esper, his chief of staff and two of the most prominent officials overseeing politics and intelligence. They have been replaced by Trump loyalists, including “a controversial person who promoted conspiracy theories and described former President Barack Obama as a terrorist.”
A senior military official told “CNN” on Tuesday: “It appears we have finished beheading at this point,” referring to the wave of isolation from senior ministry officials.
These moves are likely to reinforce the sense of chaos within the Pentagon after the firing of Esper, whom Trump left just two days after announcing the victory of his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, in results the president has so far rejected.
The controversial new appointment is retired Brigadier General Anthony Tata, who has become the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, replacing James Anderson.
Tata was a candidate for the same position last summer, but his candidacy was withdrawn due to bipartisan opposition after he made anti-Islam comments and promoted conspiracy theories.
In 2018, Tata tweeted on his Twitter account, claiming that Obama was “a terrorist leader who did more than harm America and helped Islamic countries more than any president in history.”
Tata is seen as a Trump loyalist who maintained his support for the White House man even as Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee indicated they were unprepared to support Trump earlier this year.
According to another defense official, retired Admiral Joseph Karnan, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, also left his post, replacing Ezra Cohen and Watnick.
Cohen-Watnick gained notoriety in March 2017, for his alleged involvement in “improper espionage of Trump’s associates,” which was reported by US newspapers.
Cash Patil will be Chief of Staff, as confirmed by military sources to “CNN”, knowing that he had recently held the position of counterterrorism officer in the National Security Council, and was among the names mentioned in the House of Representatives who questioned the decision of the government postponing military aid to Ukraine last year.
Military sources said Patil has a “very close” working relationship with Miller, whom Trump has appointed as defense minister.
