By Charles Switzer
9:03am PST, Jan 21, 2025
'Total Fascist' Strikes Back
In a move that sparked widespread discussion, the Pentagon "quietly" removed the official portrait of retired General
Mark Milley, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, from its esteemed hallway displaying past chairmen.
This action occurred just hours after President
Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Milley on Monday, January 20, aiming to shield him from potential legal actions under the new administration.
With President
Donald Trump's second term officially underway, the man who Milley once called a total "fascist," was "definitely the one who banished the image to a Pentagon closet," a Washington, D.C., insider revealed.
Here's a look at what led to the "bitter rage" the president "now harbors" for the ex-general.
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The Portrait's Removal
Unveiled on January 10, in a ceremony attended by Milley and then-Defense Secretary
Lloyd Austin, the portrait's removal was first noticed by Pentagon reporters who observed an empty space where it once hung.
The Pentagon has yet to provide an official explanation for this action, leaving the public to speculate on its motivations.
In a speech after his main inaugural address on Monday, January 20, Trump called the Biden preemptive pardons, including Milley's, "unfortunate."
Tensions Between Milley and Trump
The relationship between General Milley and the 45th and now 47th president has long been fraught with tension.
Initially appointed by Trump in December 2018, Milley later faced criticism from his Commander-in-Chief, who, in 2023, suggested on social media that Milley could be "executed" for treason.
This drastic shift in their relationship underscores the deep divisions that have characterized recent U.S. political and military interactions. Milley pushed back against Trump on several key matters in his first term including the
George Floyd protests in the spring of 2020, and Trump's claims the
presidential election that year was "rigged."
Biden's Preemptive Pardon
In his final hours in office, then-President Biden issued a preemptive pardon for General Milley, along with other individuals such as Dr.
Anthony Fauci and former Representative
Liz Cheney — all Trump "enemies."
Biden expressed concerns about potential politically motivated investigations, stating, "These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing."
Milley responded with gratitude, emphasizing his lifelong commitment to serving the nation and upholding the Constitution.
Biden also issued pardons for several members of his own family.
Trump's Reaction to the Pardon
During unscripted remarks in Emancipation Hall following his inaugural address, President Trump
questioned the rationale behind Biden's decision to pardon Milley.
He expressed bewilderment, saying, "Why are we doing this? Why are we trying to help a guy like Milley?"
Trump's comments reflect his "deep-seated hatred" of disloyalty within the U.S. government, essentially when things do not go his own way.
Milley's Controversial Tenure
Several contentious events marked General Milley's tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Notably, in 2020, he expressed regret for accompanying President Trump to St. John's Episcopal Church after law enforcement cleared Floyd protesters from Lafayette Square in the nation's capital.
Additionally, following the
January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, reports surfaced that Milley contacted his Chinese counterpart to assure stability, actions that reportedly strained his relationship with Trump.
Implications for Civil-Military Relations
Commenting on the Biden pardons and Trump reactions, one X commenter pleaded, "As the nation moves forward, these incidents serve as a reminder of the need for clear boundaries and mutual respect between civilian leaders and military officials."
Another quipped, "Remember 2017? Return to that headspace and then accept that is where we are again… for the next four years."
