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Trump unexpectedly fired Defense Secretary Esper, who had many disagreements with him, drawing harsh criticism from Democrats.
“Mark Esper has been removed from office. I appreciate his service. The director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Christopher Miller, will become Acting Secretary of Defense, effective immediately.” US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on September 11.
Minister Esper at a webinar at the Pentagon on October 21. Image: Ministry of National Defense of America.
The US defense official, who remains anonymous, said White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows announced his decision to fire Esper minutes before President Trump posted on Twitter. Miller appeared at the Pentagon after about an hour, when the US Department of Defense had yet to release a statement confirming that the Esper was fired.
Democrats criticized Trump’s sudden action, arguing that it conveyed a dangerous message to American opponents and undermined hopes for orderly transfers of power as President-elect Joe Biden prepares to take office. Excuse me. “This is proof that President Trump will use his last days in the White House to cause chaos,” said the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
Mark Esper was appointed in July 2019 and was the fourth Secretary of Defense under the Trump administration. In August, Esper told his neighbors that he plans to step down, regardless of the results of the presidential election.
Esper and Trump disagree on a variety of issues, from Confederate flags hanging on military bases to mobilizing troops to face violent protests in American cities in the middle of the year. The Pentagon chief appears to be helping congressmen draft a bill that would allow the names of Confederate generals to be removed from US military bases.
An anonymous source said on Nov. 6 that Esper had prepared a resignation, but Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman denied the information.
Vu anh (According to the Reuters)
