Tension Builds Between GOP Old Guard and Trump Over National Security Appointments
In a rare public disagreement, former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is voicing serious concern about President Trump’s latest moves within the Pentagon and intelligence community. The longtime Republican leader is questioning the appointment of what he calls “amateur isolationists” to powerful roles inside the Department of Defense.
National security, loyalty, and the deep state are now front and center in Washington.
McConnell, known for his establishment credentials, criticized Trump’s decision to fire Gen. Timothy Haugh, the highly decorated four-star general who led the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command. The dismissal came with no public explanation—something that has caught the attention of both political insiders and conservative voters alike.
Trump Reshapes the Deep State: “Time to Clean House”
President Trump also recently terminated six senior staffers at the National Security Council (NSC) following a private meeting in the Oval Office with Laura Loomer, a conservative activist and outspoken critic of entrenched Washington bureaucrats.
Loomer, who has a large following on social media, handed Trump a list of officials she claimed were undermining his America First agenda. Shortly afterward, those individuals were removed from their posts.
This bold move has sparked fresh debate about the need to purge anti-Trump operatives from the federal government.
Loomer didn’t hold back online, referring to former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley—who reportedly once called Trump a “fascist”—as a traitor. She warned that the FBI, DOJ, NSA, NSC, and Department of Defense (DoD) are still “packed with bad actors” loyal to the old order.
Trump’s Pentagon Picks Stir Controversy Among GOP Hawks
While grassroots conservatives have praised the shake-up, establishment Republicans are sounding the alarm. McConnell and others are especially critical of Trump’s new appointments, including:
- Michael DiMino, now Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East. Critics point to DiMino’s past statements downplaying U.S. threats in the region—sparking concern among pro-Israel advocates.
- Andrew Byers, tapped for South and Southeast Asia policy. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) raised flags over Byers’ unconventional views on China, stating he believes deterrence is outdated and that the U.S. should stop its so-called “belligerent” policies toward the Chinese Communist Party.
These appointments reflect a growing divide between Trump’s non-interventionist, America First base and the old guard of neoconservative foreign policy thinkers.
Conservatives Applaud the Effort to Drain the Swamp
Many conservative voters, especially those 50 and older, have long distrusted the unelected bureaucrats shaping U.S. foreign policy behind the scenes. Trump’s latest moves appear to confirm what many suspected: loyalty matters more than rank, and it’s time to replace globalist insiders with voices who will put America First—not last.
“It’s going to take time to hunt these people down, expose them, and get them fired,” Loomer posted on X.
As the 2024 campaign season heats up, President Trump’s bold realignment of national security leadership signals a return to his core message: clean out the Deep State, restore accountability, and defend American sovereignty.