Retired Gen. Mark Milley Refuses to Engage in Verbal Exchange with Former President Trump

In a recent House Foreign Affairs hearing on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Retired Gen. Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, showed composure when questioned by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) about former President Trump's 2023 social media post that suggested he should be executed.

Milley's Response

Milley refused to engage in a war of words with Trump, stating, "I don’t agree with the comments, but it’s a free country and people can say what they want. With all due respect, guys, I’m here for the families of Abbey Gate," referencing the 13 U.S. soldiers killed during the withdrawal, and "those that served in Afghanistan."

He further emphasized, "I’d like to stay focused on these families" and chose not to dwell on the inflammatory remarks.

Retirement Speech

Days after Trump's threat, during his retirement speech, Milley labeled the former president a "wannabe dictator" and emphasized the unique loyalty of the U.S. military to the Constitution and the American ideal, rather than to any individual.

Clashes with Trump

Milley, a Trump appointee, frequently disagreed with the former president on the use of force and appropriate military response. Notably, they clashed over the incident at St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C., in June 2020, during protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd.

Milley expressed regret over walking with Trump to the church in combat fatigues, admitting that it created “a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.”