After rebuke, top U.S. general says joining Trump church walk during protests was "mistake"

By Phil Stewart

 

FILE PHOTO: Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley during a news conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., April 14, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. military officer on Thursday said he should not have joined President Donald Trump as he walked from the White House to a nearby church for a photo opportunity after authorities cleared the way of protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets.

 

"I should not have been there," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley said of his appearance at the politically charged event on June 1.

 

"My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics," he said in a prerecorded video commencement address to the National Defense University.

 

Milley's remarks followed a rare outpouring of condemnation from retired U.S. generals and even former defense secretary Jim Mattis for taking part in the event, given that the U.S. military is meant to be apolitical and is sworn to defend the U.S. constitution, which protects the right to peaceful protest.

 

Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper had joined Trump to pay a surprise visit to the historic Saint John’s Church, during which the president held up a Bible for photographers.

 

Minutes before the visit, law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse mostly peaceful protesters occupying the square between the White House and the church in a demonstration against the police killing of George Floyd, drawing condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans.

 

The National Guard supported law enforcement at the site.

 

"As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it," Milley said, but stopped short of apologizing outright.

 

As authorities were clearing the square, Trump delivered a speech at the White House condemning "acts of domestic terror" and saying the United States was in the grips of professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals and others.

 

He promised the mobilization of thousands of U.S. troops and told U.S. governors that same day he was putting Milley "in charge" of the protest response.

 

Milley later seemed to reinforce Trump's comments by appearing in downtown Washington D.C. that evening in camouflage fatigues.

 

The protests following Floyd's killing in Minneapolis, Minnesota, have been largely peaceful. Floyd, who was black, died after a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes on May 25.

 

Milley has not appeared in public to answer questions since the walk with Trump. His decision to deliver his remarks in a prerecorded message, as opposed to a news conference, precluded the possibility of taking questions, including about any split with the Republican president.

 

Esper told a Pentagon news conference more than a week ago that he regretted using the word "battlespace" to describe protest sites around the United States and said he was unaware that the church visit was going to be a "photo op."

 

He also publicly stated that he did not support the use of the Insurrection Act, which would allow Trump to mobilize active duty troops to crack down on protests. Reuters has reported that Trump came closer to deploying active duty troops than thought and yelled at Esper after that news conference.

 

In his address on Thursday, Milley stressed the need for members of the military to stay out of politics.

 

"We who wear the cloth of our nation come from the people of our nation and we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic," he said.

 

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Howard Goller and Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-12

 

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A few more disenters, is the ship taking on more water?

 

#oldfarangsmatter

Meh,so what. This is an irrelevance, he wasn't leading the charge against an angry mob.

The spell may be broken gen Miley the fed spoke truth today dod now let’s see some senators grow some only Lisa and Romney so far enough chaos speak up!!yes the spell may be broken

47 minutes ago, webfact said:

Milley's remarks followed a rare outpouring of condemnation from retired U.S. generals and even former defense secretary Jim Mattis for taking part in the event, given that the U.S. military is meant to be apolitical and is sworn to defend the U.S. constitution, which protects the right to peaceful protest.

 

Peaceful protest. Peaceful. Not rioting, looting, destroying property. 

1 minute ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Peaceful protest. Peaceful. Not rioting, looting, destroying property. 

The protest he got roped into appearing at was peaceful and lawful Donald just wanted a bs photo 

If this tin pot general can't stand up to the draft dodger and do what's right how can he  be expected to take on former American invasion targets like mighty Grenada or Panama?

Just now, Tug said:

The protest he got roped into appearing at was peaceful and lawful Donald just wanted a bs photo 

 

Garbage. Just because the rioters were taking a water break after 48 hours of strait riots and looting and arson does not mean it was peaceful and lawful, nor does it mean they can block traffic and people for days on end either. 

24 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Peaceful protest. Peaceful. Not rioting, looting, destroying property. 

I doubt evidence of the peaceful nature of the protest Trump ordered to be teargassed for his photo op would convince you, so here’s a challenge for you:

 

Where you state the protesters were ‘looting’, what precisely do you assert they were looting on ‘Lafayette Square’?

 

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/06/oops-trump-brought-the-wrong-bible-to-his-church-stunt/

1 hour ago, Thailand said:

A few more disenters, is the ship taking on more water?

 

 

Dirty swamp water I would suspect!

While I admire him for admitting his mistake, in the moment of truth he faltered by choosing to participate. He should resign.

 

 

22 minutes ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Garbage. Just because the rioters were taking a water break after 48 hours of strait riots and looting and arson does not mean it was peaceful and lawful, nor does it mean they can block traffic and people for days on end either. 

Teargas the rif raf and shoot them with rubber bullets! There's a bible that needs to held up for some reason or another! ???? #Privileged white republican lives matter, right?

2 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

Teargas the rif raf and shoot them with rubber bullets! There's a bible that needs to held up for some reason or another! ???? #Privileged white republican lives matter, right?

 

I honestly do not give a single <deleted> about rioters occupying a public space getting teargassed or hit with rubber bullets after they rioted for 48 straight hours. 

Ah, why didn’t he say “Mr. President as a uniformed member of the US Military I cannot go on this walk to the plaza?  He has to think about it and then make a speech and apologize?  Modern Military Leadership?  Same goes for Defense Secretary Esper.  If Esper disagrees with this President regarding the staging of Active Duty Soldiers in DC then he should have stated his opposition and offer to resign?  

 

 

3 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Ah, why didn’t he say “Mr. President as a uniformed member of the US Military I cannot go on this walk to the plaza?  He has to think about it and then make a speech and apologize?  Modern Military Leadership?  Same goes for Defense Secretary Esper.  If Esper disagrees with this President regarding the staging of Active Duty Soldiers in DC then he should have stated his opposition and offer to resign?  

 

 

The least they could have done was send a Tweet, the commander in chief understands tweets, it's how he communicates! 

I do agree that he should not have attended in uniform, but it is a stretch for people to say that this means there is a rift between him and POTUS.

15 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

I do agree that he should not have attended in uniform, but it is a stretch for people to say that this means there is a rift between him and POTUS.

Have to wait and see how trump responds.  I assume trump doesn't wish to create further discord with the military as it would hurt his re-election effort.

1 hour ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

I honestly do not give a single <deleted> about rioters occupying a public space getting teargassed or hit with rubber bullets after they rioted for 48 straight hours. 

I actually enjoyed footage of the looters getting some medicine, they don’t like it when the boots on the other foot, lol. 

The general however is guilty of cowardice.

Edited June 12, 20206 yr by twocatsmac

22 hours ago, twocatsmac said:

<SNIP>

The general however is guilty of cowardice.

The general is upholding his Oath and principals. To accuse such a man of cowardice is yet another example of trump's influence debasing US society.

 

“As many of you saw the results of the photograph of me in Lafayette Square last week, that sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society,” Milley said. “I should not have been there. My presence in that moment, and in that environment, created the perception of the military involved in domestic politics.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/11/top-us-military-general-mark-milley-issues-public-apology-trump-church-photo-op

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"We who wear the cloth of our nation come from the people of our nation and we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic,"

"While he who wears the highest office of our nation holds dear the principles of nepotism, bigotry and insult that are so deeply rooted in the very essence of his being."

3 hours ago, Mama Noodle said:

 

Garbage. Just because the rioters were taking a water break after 48 hours of strait riots and looting and arson does not mean it was peaceful and lawful, nor does it mean they can block traffic and people for days on end either. 

Classic Trumpism - what you see isn't what you see.

54 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

I actually enjoyed footage of the looters getting some medicine, they don’t like it when the boots on the other foot, lol. 

The general however is guilty of cowardice.

You are a sad, sad, person. As pointed out earlier, the people were peacefully assembling, as were news teams (Australia, Germany) who were beaten and shot at with pepper balls and rubber bullets.  You might say "Well, maybe they were rioting night before". Not good enough.

"Boots on the other foot" sounds like you approve of law enforcement being indistinguishable from law breakers.

Military, along with officials, take oath to protect and defend US Constitution (which includes right to peaceable assemble to protest grievances. You could look it up). They do not take an oath similar to Nazis who swore allegiance  to Hitler. Cowardice? Please explain

3 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Ah, why didn’t he say “Mr. President as a uniformed member of the US Military I cannot go on this walk to the plaza?  He has to think about it and then make a speech and apologize?  Modern Military Leadership?  Same goes for Defense Secretary Esper.  If Esper disagrees with this President regarding the staging of Active Duty Soldiers in DC then he should have stated his opposition and offer to resign? 

What pussies. China, NK, Russia, Iran have nothing to fear.

Glad he came to a changed point of view, just a pity he didn't do this earlier.

Unfortunately Trump won't care, ancient history to him.

The Republicans will probably be out of both houses for the next 8-12 years unless they act now to get rid of Trump. They need to  invoke the 25th amendment and let Pence keep the seat warm until November. They will not win the election but at least they can show the country they have the intestinal fortitude to act and fix up their mistakes. This way they may hold onto a few senate seats and go into 2024 with a clean slate. Otherwise their fate will be sealed and they will be out for a long time.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"I should not have been there," Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley said of his appearance at the politically charged event on June 1.

 

"My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics," he said in a prerecorded video commencement address to the National Defense University.

 

...

Minutes before the visit, law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse mostly peaceful protesters occupying the square between the White House and the church in a demonstration against the police killing of George Floyd, drawing condemnation from Democrats and some Republicans.

 

Milley only apologized for being there after being called out by other military members. But Milley said nothing about the use of tear gas and rubber bullets to clear the peaceful protesters for Donald's "Bible Photo-Op". I guess Milley is okay with the use of tear gas and rubber bullets on US Citizens by US enforcement officials for political reasons.

Edited June 12, 20206 yr by Silurian

1 hour ago, Emdog said:

You are a sad, sad, person. As pointed out earlier, the people were peacefully assembling, as were news teams (Australia, Germany) who were beaten and shot at with pepper balls and rubber bullets.  You might say "Well, maybe they were rioting night before". Not good enough.

"Boots on the other foot" sounds like you approve of law enforcement being indistinguishable from law breakers.

Military, along with officials, take oath to protect and defend US Constitution (which includes right to peaceable assemble to protest grievances. You could look it up). They do not take an oath similar to Nazis who swore allegiance  to Hitler. Cowardice? Please explain

I believe in being proactive, you see if I’m faced with a snarling soi dog wanting to bite me I’d pepper spray it before I was bitten. 

So el presedente having seen the looters try to burn the chapel down the night before took a similar action and yes I found it most enjoyable. 

is a military coup in the works? perhaps we will have a night of the generals

 

Edited June 12, 20206 yr by malibukid

2 hours ago, simple1 said:

Have to wait and see how trump responds.  I assume trump doesn't wish to create further discord with the military as it would hurt his re-election effort.

He is more likely to respond to a hurt insatiable ego, his!

5 hours ago, Tug said:

The spell may be broken gen Miley the fed spoke truth today dod now let’s see some senators grow some only Lisa and Romney so far enough chaos speak up!!yes the spell may be broken

Amazingly, Lindsey Graham actually spoke up.  Not against Trump, but in support of the General.

 

["I have nothing but deep admiration for and total confidence in General Milley as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Graham tweeted on Thursday. "I support his statement in both substance and spirit regarding the recent presidential visit to St. Johns."

Graham added, "General Milley is a tremendous military leader who understands the long tradition of maintaining an apolitical, nonpartisan military."]

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/lindsey-graham-backs-top-generals-apology-for-appearing-with-trump-after-force-used-on-protesters/ar-BB15mog3