Trump dismisses Defense Minister Esper

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, fired Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper.

In announcing this decision on Twitter, Trump announced that Esper was replaced by Christopher Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

Trump used the following statements in his statement:

“I am proud to announce that the highly respected Director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, Christopher C. Miller, has assumed his post as Under Secretary of Defense effective immediately (accepted unanimously by the Senate).

“Mark Esper was fired. I appreciate his services.”

Miller is the fourth defense minister to take office during Trump’s four-year presidency.

Trump lost the presidential race in the elections held on November 3; however, it is preparing to oppose this result by legal means.

James Mattis, Trump’s prime minister of defense, who entered the White House in January 2017, resigned in December 2018, especially criticizing Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria.

Then Patrick Shanahan, whom Trump wanted to take on, continued this duty by proxy for 7 months. However, he withdrew from the candidacy due to allegations of domestic violence.

Mark Esper, who later assumed office by proxy, became Defense Minister in July 2019 with the approval of the Senate.

At the time, Republicans and Democrats supported Esper, a former gun lobbyist and soldier.

During protests that swept across the country following the police murder of George Floyd, a black American citizen in the summer, Trump wanted to take the military to the streets against protesters; Esper objected to this decision.

Speaking at the Pentagon in early June, Esper said: “It should be the last resort for active duty soldiers to take to the streets to ensure law enforcement, and it should only happen in the most urgent and dire times. No we are in such a situation right now. ” he said.

Thus, he repeated his objection in front of the cameras and made it public.

Claiming that George Floyd’s death was a “terrible crime”, Esper said that the police should be held responsible for this murder and that such tragedies are repeated too many times.

According to the American press at the time, Trump wanted to fire Esper; however, his inner circle persuaded him not to take that step to avoid tension.

Likewise, Esper preferred to wear a mask in the fight against the coronavirus, unlike Trump.

The two were known to have different views on NATO.

That is why the dismissal of Esper was so expected.

Esper’s successor, Miller, was the top terrorist officer on the White House National Security Council.