Pentagon Pulls Milley's Security Detail, Clearance
The Facts
Pete Hegseth, the US Defense Secretary under Pres. Donald Trump, pulled the security clearance and personal protection clearance for retired general Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Milley, who served as chairman from 2019 to 2023, was first assigned a protective detail along with other members of the first Trump administration after Iran vowed to retaliate for the 2020 US drone strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani.
The Trump administration moved to revoke the protection details for former National Security Advisor John Bolton, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Pompeo's former top aide Brian Hook in the first hours of his new administration. This came despite Trump's team reportedly being briefed by the Biden administration about the threats.
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Aside from his inappropriate political critiques, Milley also defied Trump by calling his Chinese counterpart to tell him that he would warn him of a US attack. Such behavior is treasonous and Milley is fortunate that Trump isn't currently planning to prosecute the retired general.
Anti-Trump narrative
This is another part of Trump's vengeful purge of officials who tried to protect the American people from his dictatorial tendencies. It shows that former Pres. Joe Biden was right in issuing Milley with a preemptive pardon so that he would be protected from persecution.
