Trump chooses new Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, against Mattis wishes


Team Udayavani, Dec 9, 2018, 1:20 PM IST

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he was nominating Army chief of staff General Mark Milley as his next top military advisor — a new slap in the face for Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

Milley, a four-star general who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, would replace General Joseph Dunford as the military’s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dunford is scheduled to retire in October 2019 at the end of his second two-year term.

“I am thankful to both of these incredible men for their service to our Country!” Trump said on Twitter in making the announcement.

“Mark is a great gentleman, great soldier. I look forward to that,” Trump then told reporters before heading to the annual Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia.

But in choosing the 60-year-old Milley, a graduate of Princeton University known for his combat command experience, Trump went against the wishes of Mattis, who reportedly favoured Air Force General David Goldfein.

That choice would have been in keeping with a tradition of rotating the post among the services. Dunford is a Marine Corps general.

There has not been an Air Force officer in the chairman’s post since 2005. The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of the heads of the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and National Guard.

Dunford quickly offered his congratulations to Milley. “He has served with General Milley in peacetime and in combat and has the highest regard for his leadership,” said Dunford’s spokesman, Colonel Patrick Ryder.

Milley must be confirmed by the US Senate. He would take the position for a four-year term, after a new law was passed last year doubling the term length to better ensure continuity. Trump said the transition date was “to be determined,” in a sign that Dunford might go sooner rather than later, but Ryder noted: “All indications are that General Dunford will serve his full term.” 

Trump announced his picks for a new attorney general and a new UN ambassador on Friday. On Saturday, he also announced that chief of staff John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, would leave by year’s end.

After meeting with both Milley and Goldfein, it seems that Trump preferred the army general, who was more outgoing than the cerebral Air Force chief, and laced his discussions with humour and historical references.

The Pentagon’s reaction to the announcement was somewhat frosty. “We are aware of the president’s nomination and share his confidence for General Mark Milley,” Pentagon spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, said in a brief statement.

“The Department of Defense remains fully focused on defending our nation.” Mattis was once a favorite of Trump, but the two men have had increasing difficulties in recent months.

They haven’t seen eye to eye over the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from over Mattis’ objections; over the creation of a Space Force, which Mattis did not want; and over the crisis at the US-Mexico border, and the deployment of troops there.

Mattis and Dunford are expected to attend the Army-Navy game on Saturday along with Trump. The game features cadets from the Naval Academy against their counterparts from the US Military Academy and is often attended by the president.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Women centric schemes game-changer for Maharashtra, Jharkhand?

AR Rahman sends notice to ‘slanderers’ over speculations surrounding separation with Saira Banu

No anti-government sentiment in Kerala, claims CM Vijayan

Jaiswal’s Perth Simulation: 200 overs in 2 days, inclined concrete slab, lighter synthetic balls

PCB says no meeting with ICC, BCCI officials on November 26 to resolve CT imbroglio

Australia coach McDonald surprised about behaviour of wicket on Day two

Sharad Pawar: Assembly poll rout raises question of existence for patriarch’s political legacy

Related Articles More

Royal tour of India in offing for King Charles, Queen Camilla: Report

Indian-American leaders applaud PM Modi for inclusive growth in India

COP29: Civil society protests climate finance proposal, calls for ‘no deal’ over ‘bad deal’

Bomb disposal squad tackles ‘security incident’ at UK’s Gatwick Airport

Baku climate talks: The ‘X’ factor that could determine future of Global South

MUST WATCH

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation


Latest Additions

Satwik, Chirag doubles pair bows out of China Masters semifinals

Puttur: Two arrested for misconduct under influence of drugs

Kaup: Massive campaign and awareness rally Nov 26 for Constitution protection

Never entered into pact to operate airport in Kenya: Adani

Women centric schemes game-changer for Maharashtra, Jharkhand?

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.