The top US general is standing firm amid sweeping changes at the Pentagon which have seen senior officials replaced by Trump idealogues and alarmed senior defense officials.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley made clear his dedication to the constitution at an event Wednesday while standing beside the newly installed acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller."We are unique among militaries. We do not take an oath to a king or a queen, a tyrant or a dictator. We do not take an oath to an individual. No, we do not take an oath to a country, a tribe or religion. We take an oath to the Constitution. And every soldier that is represented in this museum, every sailor, airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, each of us will protect and defend that document, regardless of personal price," Milley said during remarks at the opening of the US Army's museum.While Milley routinely references the military's oath to uphold the Constitution, he chose to reinforce that message during his first public remarks following the major shakeup of the Pentagon's senior civilian leadership.
Milley concerned about politicization
Prior to the election CNN reported that Milley was concerned about the military being politicized and ready to argue against the President invoking the Insurrection Act in the wake of any post-election civil unrest -- a move that could put military force on the streets against civilians.Milley, who was appointed in October 2019, will officially leave office at the end of his term in 2023.
But while Trump could fire Milley in theory, his would be technically limited in who he could tap to replace him.
According to law, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. John Hyten would automatically serve as the acting chairman upon Milley's departure.
If Trump were to also dismiss Hyten, the President would then have to designate a member of the Joint Chiefs as acting chairman.
For his part, Milley appears to be carrying on with business as usual.