Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, used his retirement ceremony on Friday to take a parting shot at former President Donald Trump.
Milley emphasized the unique nature of the US military, stating that they don't take an oath to an individual, but rather to the Constitution and the idea of America. He added, "We're willing to die to protect it."
Milley's comments came in response to Trump's previous remarks about him on Truth Social, where Trump insinuated that Milley deserved the death penalty.
Trump's criticism of Milley stems from a reported phone call the general made to China's top general, Li Zuocheng, in October 2020. Milley assured Li that the U.S. did not intend to attack China, which was revealed in the book "Peril" by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. This call was made after U.S. intelligence officials detected that Beijing believed Washington was planning an imminent strike.
Trump has held a grudge against Milley since before the release of the book, as it also revealed that Milley had another call with Li two days after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, to reassure China that the US was stable.
During his last year in office, Trump was also upset with Milley for expressing regret about joining him on a walk through Lafayette Square in June 2020, where tear gas and rubber bullets were used on protesters. Milley's comments on "60 Minutes" about taking appropriate measures for his family's safety after Trump's execution remark further strained their relationship.
In his retirement speech, Milley made it clear that the military would never turn its back on its duty or the Constitution. He quoted Thomas Paine, saying, "These are the times that try men's souls... Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered."
Following Milley's remarks, Air Force Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown formally took command as the new Chief of the Joint Staff. However, his Senate confirmation was delayed for months due to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on rapid military confirmations. Tuberville's hold is in protest of a Pentagon policy regarding troops' out-of-state travel for reproductive services, including abortion and in-vitro fertilization. This hold prevents the Senate Armed Services Committee from approving nominations in bulk.
President Biden criticized Tuberville and his fellow Republican senators for holding up the confirmation process, stating that it was unacceptable. He noted that over 300 highly qualified military officers were still in limbo, and their careers and families were being held hostage for the political agenda of one senator. While the Senate bypassed Tuberville's hold for some nominations, more than 316 military officers are still waiting for confirmation to senior leadership roles.
If Tuberville continues his protest, it could take the Senate over 700 hours to confirm each nomination individually, according to estimates from the Pentagon. Biden emphasized that this delay has a negative impact on readiness, morale, and retention within the military, calling it an insult to the officers' years of dedicated service. He concluded by stating that the troops deserve better.
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