Retired US General Mark Milley, former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both Trump and Biden, fears being recalled to uniform and court-martialed if Donald Trump wins the upcoming election.
Since his retirement, Milley has received numerous death threats, which he attributes to Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric.
“I had my doubts about his mental state before, but now I see he’s a full-blown fascist,” Milley told journalist Bob Woodward, as reported by The Guardian. “He is now the most dangerous person in this country.”
Milley warned colleagues that Trump was seriously intent on seeking revenge, and this claim was corroborated by Steve Bannon, who stated their intent to “hold him accountable.”
Trump has previously expressed a desire to punish retired military officers, like Milley, who publicly criticized him.
In 2020, Trump “yelled” and “shouted” about William McRaven, the general who led the raid on Osama bin Laden, and Stanley McChrystal, another retired officer critical of Trump. Though Milley was able to dissuade Trump at the time, he fears such restraint will vanish if Trump returns to power.
In Woodward’s new book War, tensions between Trump and Milley are explored in detail, alongside Trump’s broader plans for retribution against his critics.
Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted at these intentions throughout his campaign, famously declaring, “I am your retribution.”
The book also covers Trump’s controversial efforts to control the loyalty of military officers and his contentious relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Milley, meanwhile, continues to warn that if Trump regains office, his critics, including military officers, may face serious repercussions.