(DCWatchdog.com) – In his retirement speech yesterday, Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, emphasized the military’s steadfast loyalty to the Constitution.
Most who witnessed his remarks saw it as a direct shot at former President Donald Trump.
You can watch a video of the most controversial statement further down this post.
After serving four eventful years as the primary military advisor, initially under Trump and subsequently under President Joe Biden, Milley relinquished his position as chairman yesterday.
In his remarks, he stressed the U.S. troops’ unwavering dedication to safeguarding the Constitution. There is no doubt that Milley’s comments directly alluded to Trump, given reports which suggest he privately viewed the ex-president as a potential threat to the country’s democratic fabric.
In his words, Milley stated, “We are unique among the world’s militaries. We do not take an oath to a country. We do not 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 a dictator,” and added, “And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We do not take an oath to an individual.”
This isn’t the first instance where Milley has seemingly hinted at Trump. In a 2022 address at Princeton University, he told the graduating ROTC cadets, “You’re not taking an oath to a dictator or wannabe dictator or tyrant to the Constitution.” He emphasized, “We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it … each of us commits our very life to protect and defend that document, regardless of the personal price, and we are not easily intimidated.”
Trump had chosen Milley as his advisor in 2018. However, tensions emerged between them, especially around the January 6th Capitol disturbances. Milley reportedly grew wary, sensing Trump’s increasing authoritative tendencies.
Testimonies indicate Milley’s apprehensions about Trump potentially leveraging domestic discord to employ the Insurrection Act, thereby deploying the military to reinstate order. During a congressional session in November 2021, Milley expressed, “I was concerned that there could have been a serious overseas crisis at a moment in time in combination with serious domestic violence that could become the predicate for something that probably was extrajudicial or unconstitutional.”
In the book “I Alone Can Fix It,” authors Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker mention a quote attributed to Milley: “This is a Reichstag moment,” suggesting plots against the U.S. government. Another quote mentioned is, “The gospel of the Führer.” However, Milley has neither confirmed nor refuted these book contents and chose not to interpret his remarks or insights about Trump.
Gen. Milley warning about Trump, without using his name: "We don't take an oath to a king, or queen, or a tyrant or a dictator. And we don't take an oath to a wannabe dictator" pic.twitter.com/CILewmoNNB
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) September 29, 2023
