Tell-all books seem to be par for the course for those disgruntled notables who left their post under less-than-optimum circumstances. The latest offering comes from former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Gen. Mark Milley.
In his forthcoming book, “The Divider,” written by husband-and-wife reporting team Peter Baker and Susan Glasser, Milley claims he drafted a letter of resignation “following the photo-op with former President Trump in front of a torched church,” according to the New York Post.
Photos of Trump in front of Saint John’s Church with Bible in hand went viral at the time.
In remarks unbecoming of a general, Milley’s book reportedly notes that following criticism of his accompanying Trump to the church, he vowed to oppose the president “from the inside.”
In the draft resignation letter, Milley accused Trump of using the military to “create fear in the minds of the people,” and alleged Trump was promoting “a concerted effort … to politicize the United States military.”
“I thought that I could change that,” Milley wrote, not recognizing it was not his job nor purview to “change that.”
Milley continued, “I’ve come to the realization that I cannot, and I need to step aside and let someone else try to do that.”
On Monday, Milley’s letter was published in the New Yorker, apparently a marketing stunt for the new book.
An excerpt reads:
“As [Trump and Milley] walked, with the scent of tear gas still in the air, Milley realized that he should not be there and made his exit, quietly peeling off to his waiting black Chevy Suburban. But the damage was done.”
The Post reports that “eventually, Milley opted to stay on after consulting several elected and military officials — including his predecessor as Joint Chiefs chairman, Joseph Dunford, and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.”
The book includes unsubstantiated and salacious claims, including that Trump urged Milley to shoot protesters. “Just shoot them in the legs or something,” Trump allegedly told Milley.
In comments at National Defense University, Milley said:
“I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it.”
“The Divider” will be released on Sept. 20.
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