Trump says Defense Secretary Mark Esper has been 'terminated'
4 hrs ago
President Donald Trump announced that Mark Esper has been "terminated" as Defense secretary.
He said Christopher C. Miller will be acting secretary of the nation's largest department.
The announcement on Twitter came about five months after Trump and Esper had a public break over how to handle civil unrest in America's cities.
An administration official said the directors of the FBI and the CIA could be next.
a man wearing a suit and tie: US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper at the Pentagon on March 05, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia.© Provided by CNBC US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper at the Pentagon on March 05, 2020 in Arlington, Virginia.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Monday on Twitter that he has "terminated" Defense Secretary Mark Esper, replaced by Christopher C. Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center.
The announcement came about five months after he and his Pentagon chief had a public break over how to handle civil unrest in America's cities.
"Mark Esper has been terminated," Trump tweeted. "I would like to thank him for his service."
A Defense Department spokesperson declined to comment and referred CNBC to the White House.
In another tweet, Trump said Miller will serve as acting secretary, effective immediately.
Miller, who previously spent 31 years in the U.S. Army, was sworn in as director of the National Counterterrorism Center in August. Before that, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the employment of special operations forces in counterterrorism as well as personnel recovery and hostage issues.
It is unlikely the Senate will confirm Miller or a new nominee for the role before Trump leaves office in January.
A spokesman for the Biden transition team declined to comment on Esper's dismissal.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-defense-secretary-mark-esper-has-been-terminated/ar-BB1aQvQE?ocid=DE_20201109_ENUS_election_4