Former President Donald Trump denied his defense secretary's accusations that he wanted U.S. military members to shoot protestors during civil rights demonstrations in summer 2020, but declined comment on Mark Esper's assertion that he suggested using missiles to attack drug cartels in Mexico.
Trump became focused on Syria’s oil in October 2019 after he abruptly announced his intention to draw down U.S. troops deployed against ISIS in the area.
Former U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper is joining the board of directors at Epirus, the company announced, the latest move by the former Raytheon executive to reenter the world he left to join the Trump administration four years ago.
All 10 living former secretaries of defense signed on to an opinion article that implicitly questioned Trump’s willingness to follow his constitutional duty to peacefully relinquish power on Jan. 20.
The unprecedented removal of top Pentagon officials during a presidential transition has left the national security community wondering if the turnover is based solely on loyalty to the president.