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US President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper, a surprising and unprecedented move at a time of national uncertainty over the outcome of Trump’s bid for a second term.
The move could be seen as disturbing to the Pentagon and a source of concern for international allies and partners.
Alex Brandon / AP
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper was fired for a tweet.
It is the first time in the modern era that a president seeking reelection has removed his Pentagon chief after Election Day.
Presidents who win re-election often replace cabinet members, including the defense secretary, but losing presidents have kept their Pentagon bosses in place until Inauguration Day to preserve stability in the name of security. national.
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Esper’s strained relationship with Trump nearly collapsed last summer during civil unrest that sparked a debate within the administration about the proper role of the military in fighting internal unrest.
Esper’s opposition to the use of active duty troops to help quell the protests in Washington DC infuriated Trump and led to widespread speculation that the defense chief was willing to resign if he faced such an issue again.
Meanwhile, the White House was instructing federal agencies to fire Trump political appointees seeking job opportunities after his electoral defeat to President-elect Joe Biden.
A senior administration official says that presidential personnel director John McEntee, a former personal assistant to the president, told White House liaisons in departments that they should fire any political appointee looking for a new job, while Trump it has refused to accept the election results.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Trump’s term ends at noon on January 20 (local time). Several thousand political appointees across the government will see their jobs completed by that date.
Biden was declared the winner of the presidential election on Saturday (local time).
