Weeks after his comments on critical race theory went viral, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Mark Milley is once again facing outrage from Republicans for actions attributed to him in a new book by legendary journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, Peril, detailing the final months of the Trump administration.
Their reporting claims that Milley, fearing Trump would dramatically escalate tensions with China in order to distract from a possible election loss, secretly called his Chinese counterpart to assure that the U.S. government was stable and that he wouldn't let the Chinese government be blindsided by a possible attack.
After Trump's election lies prompted a deadly failed insurrection against the United States Capitol, Milley called his counterpart again, reiterating that there would be a peaceful transfer of power.
Republicans have balked at the reporting, with Trump himself claiming Milley's actions were tantamount to treason.
Trump said of the "dumbass" General in a written statement:
"I assume he would be tried for TREASON in that he would have been dealing with his Chinese counterpart behind the President's back and telling China that he would be giving them notification 'of an attack.'"
In a Wednesday press briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked if the White House stood by Milley.
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\u201cThis current president \u2026 who\u2019s not fomenting an insurrection, who follows the rule of law, has complete confidence in Chairman Milley.\u201d\n\n\u2014 WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki on report that General Mark Milley took secret action to limit Trump\u2019s ability to launch nuclear weapons.pic.twitter.com/2J7ELydrGm— The Recount (@The Recount) 1631725846
Psaki said:
"I can't speak to the former President's experience with [Milley] or the former President's views of him, but this President—this current President who follows the Constitution, who's not fomenting an insurrection, who follows the rule of law—has complete confidence in Chairman Milley and him continuing to serve in his role."
The response reiterated that Milley's duty was to prevent unlawful Military action, and that Trump—whose lies prompted an insurrection and whose use of the Military was controversial at best—arguably acted at odds with that objective.
People respected Psaki's response.
That's a fact.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1438188555608723456\u00a0\u2026— Liss_Sassy ~Honesty Is my best Policy \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25~ (@Liss_Sassy ~Honesty Is my best Policy \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25\ud83d\udd25~) 1631729671
This is sweet. Like caramel covered popcorn.https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1438188555608723456\u00a0\u2026— MS Fisher (@MS Fisher) 1631735355
Press Sec. Jen Psaki with the mic drop! https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1438188555608723456\u00a0\u2026— Meidas_Can_We_Restart_2021? (@Meidas_Can_We_Restart_2021?) 1631725889
Get \u2018em, @PressSechttps://twitter.com/therecount/status/1438188555608723456\u00a0\u2026— Sherie Ryan-Bailey (@Sherie Ryan-Bailey) 1631727440
They're defending Milley as well.
Who else agrees that General Milley should be saluted, not attacked, for possibly preventing Trump from starting a nuclear war?— Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Really American \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1631720364
By attacking Gen Milley, Republicans are de facto saying that the Woodward book is factual and accurate. IF they believe the Woodward book is factual and accurate, they therefore believe Trump truly staged a coup. I haven't heard them call for Trump to be arrested, have you?— Duty To Warn \ud83d\udd09 (@Duty To Warn \ud83d\udd09) 1631716063
Donald Trump was entertaining discussions about invoking the Insurrection Act to seize voting machines and force a "re-do" of elections in states he lost. The phrase "martial law" actually made it into the West Wing.\n\nMaybe important context for the Milley stuff, no?https://twitter.com/baseballcrank/status/1437838313927454727\u00a0\u2026— S.V. D\u00e1te (@S.V. D\u00e1te) 1631715041
The Biden administration has no plans to dismiss Milley.
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