This was unexpected.
In his farewell address as the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley emphasized that the commitment sworn by troops is to the Constitution, rather than to any individual, including what he referred to as a “wannabe dictator.” Although not explicitly stated, Milley’s remarks appeared to be a veiled criticism of former President Donald Trump, who had nominated him as the 20th chairman, but their relationship had soured during Trump’s presidency and continued to deteriorate.
According to the Washington Examiner, during a retirement ceremony last Friday, Milley underscored the unique nature of the U.S. military, stating, “We are unique among the world’s armies. We don’t take an oath to a country. We don’t take an oath to a tribe. We don’t take an oath to a religion. We don’t take an oath to a king, or a queen, or a tyrant or dictator. We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We don’t take an oath to an individual. We take an oath to the Constitution.”
Recently, Trump accused Milley of treasonous actions during and after the 2020 presidential election when Trump refused to concede. Trump’s comments drew sharp criticism from defense leaders. The focal point of Trump’s criticism was a controversial call between Milley and his Chinese counterpart, during which Milley reassured Beijing that the U.S. military would not initiate any hostile actions during the post-election period.
Trump claimed on Truth Social, “If the Fake News reporting is correct, [Milley] was actually dealing with China to give them a heads up on the thinking of the President of the United States. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been death! A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act.”
In response to potential threats, Milley stated during an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes that he had taken “appropriate measures” to protect himself and his family. He defended his actions, saying, “Look, I’m a soldier. I’ve been faithful and loyal to the Constitution of the United States for 44 1/2 years, and my family and I have sacrificed greatly for this country. And you know, as much as these comments are directed at me, it’s also directed at the institution of the military.”
When asked about the appropriateness of his call, Milley firmly responded, “Absolutely not. Zero. None,” and added, “I’m not going to comment directly on those things, but I can tell you that this military, this soldier, me, will never turn our back on that Constitution.”
As General Charles Q. Brown assumes the role, General Milley concludes his four-year tenure as chairman, marking the end of a distinguished military career spanning more than 40 years.