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“I’m not saying that the military is in love with me, the soldiers are, the most important people in the Pentagon probably are not because they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all those wonderful companies that make bombs and planes and make everything else happy, “Trump told reporters at a White House news conference.
Trump’s extraordinary comments come as various defense officials tell CNN that relations between the president and Pentagon leaders are becoming increasingly strained.
Some have expressed concern that the president’s accusations Monday against senior military officials could have a corrosive effect.
“The president’s comments on the motivations of military leaders not only degrade their service and that of those they lead; he credits the same contempt and thoughtlessness that he tries to deny,” said the retired US Navy rear admiral and CNN analyst John Kirby.
The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on Monday’s comments.
While Trump has publicly discredited the service of several high-profile veterans, such as the late Senator John McCain and his former Defense Secretary, Retired General Jim Mattis, Monday’s barrage was on a new level by targeting the leaders he appointed to lead. carry out your orders. .
Trump has also repeatedly touted boosting the defense budget as one of his administration’s top accomplishments, citing it as evidence of his support for the military, spending that has also benefited defense contractors.
Top Commanders Exhausted and Worried
CNN has previously reported that relations between Trump and his defense secretary, Mark Esper, are strained, and Trump is believed to be on the verge of replacing him. But with the presidential election less than two months away, top Pentagon commanders are increasingly exhausted and concerned about their relationship with the president, several defense officials told CNN.
A critical area of concern is how the Pentagon would respond if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act to put US military troops on the streets to deal with civilian protesters while continuing to stoke divisions across the country in the run-up to the elections. Trump raised the idea last month, and after he made the first threat in June, Esper publicly broke with him saying he was opposed to such a move.
To avoid a new confrontation with the White House, over the past few weeks, senior military officials, including General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been receiving periodic reports of civil unrest in major cities across the country. The idea is to be prepared with alternative plans for the state-activated National Guard and other federal civilian law enforcement rather than for active duty troops to clash with protesters, according to various defense officials.
Another issue that could lead to a showdown between Trump and the military leadership is the $ 740 billion defense bill that would remove the names of Confederate generals in the face of vocal opposition from Trump, who said he would veto any move.
The entire Joint Chiefs of Staff have made it clear that they want to eliminate what they see as the divisive symbols of the Confederacy.
Military leaders have embarked on various initiatives aimed at improving racial inclusion. Officials say it is a vital job to ensure that when troops go to war, they are a cohesive fighting force.
There are also very real concerns about the aftermath of the November elections, particularly if the outcome is not clear immediately after election night.
“In the event of a dispute over any aspect of the election, by law the courts and the US Congress are required to resolve any dispute, not the US military,” Milley wrote in a letter to House armed services committee.
“I deeply believe in the principle of an apolitical American military,” Milley wrote.
Despite what Milley said, if there were some kind of constitutional crisis if the election outcome is unclear, the military could find itself in a tough position, especially since Trump’s opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, raised the idea of who could get involved in an interview in June.
“I promise you, I am absolutely convinced that he will be escorted from the White House very quickly,” Biden said, referring to the US Army Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In addition to that uncertainty, there are concerns that Trump may launch military action against an adversary before Inauguration Day, regardless of who wins the White House, they are also at the front and center of the higher ranks.
