TRUMP MULLS FIRING PENTAGON CHIEF: NBC NEWS

US President Donald Trump’s allies fear that the ouster of Defense Secretary Mark Esper would solidify military and veteran opposition to him and further reduce the 60% support he had received from that sector in 2016, with Trump’s support down to 40% according to Military Times.

Esper, along with Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, regretted joining Trump in a photo op at a church across the White House after police and federal agents teargassed and whipped protesters month ago, with both men saying they were not in on Trump’s plans, Eric W. Dolan wrote for Raw Story late on September 7, 2020. MSNBC also reported that Rep. Seth Mouton (D) — who served in Iraq as a Marine — said Marines officers are even talking of disobeying Trump’s unlawful orders, particularly if he refuses to accept defeat against Democratic rival Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 election.

NBC News reported on Monday (Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in Manila) that Trump reportedly talked to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie about becoming the new defense secretary if he fires Esper, causing horror at the White House and pushing his aides to warn him not to act before the election.

The Wall Street Journal reported in June that Trump nearly fired Esper for not for backing the idea of using military troops to quell protests. “Trump was furious,” the Journal said. Now, NBC News reports that Trump’s allies inside and outside the White House are urging him to stick with Esper until the November 3 election. They warn that ousting the defense secretary would create turmoil.