The Pentagon removed a portrait of Mark Milley, a retired Army general and frequent critic of Donald Trump, just hours after the 47th president was inaugurated in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
The portrait of the now-retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff hung in a hallway filled with paintings of Mr. Milley's predecessor for a short time — just 10 days ago, during the waning days of the Biden administration. The Post confirmed.
The action was unprecedented as military leaders are considered apolitical. According to the New York Times.
U.S. officials would only say in response to the report that the White House ordered the move.
Trump and Milley have had a controversial relationship since taking office. Milley was nominated as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his first term in December 2018.
“I am pleased to announce that I have nominated four-star Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to replace retiring General Joe Dunford as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” President Trump tweeted. at that time.
“I am grateful for the contributions of these two wonderful people to our country.”
This love fest didn't last long, however, and worsened in mid-2020 when Millie apologized for taking part in a photo shoot in Lafayette Square during the George Floyd protests. According to The Independent.
Law enforcement used tear gas to remove peaceful protesters in the park, an act that was swiftly and strongly condemned as an affront to the First Amendment and a clearly excessive use of force. was invited.
Milley, a native of Massachusetts, was also concerned about President Trump's refusal to concede after his clear loss in the 2020 election and feared a possible coup.
Meanwhile, President Trump called the Princeton University graduate “stupid” and “a train wreck,” saying he was “slow in action and slow in thinking.”
Mr. Biden pre-emptively pardoned Mr. Milley just before leaving office, fearing that Mr. Trump would try to prosecute him.
