Trump Fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper

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President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday and announced Christopher Miller, previously the National Counterterrorism Center director, as acting defense secretary in a tweet. Though shifting Pentagon priorities and rising tension in the White House suggested Esper's exit for some time, Esper told Military Times that he had no intention of quitting. Trump's termination of Esper raises questions about the actions the president might take during the next few months in the White House, in anticipation of projected winner Joe Biden taking office.

Coverage from across the political spectrum tended to focus on Esper's history in the White House, as well as speculation about Trump's potential actions between now and January.

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As had long been expected, President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, cutting short what would have otherwise been his final months at the Pentagon, in anticipation of President-elect Joe Biden’s transition in January.

Delivered via tweet, Trump announced Chris Miller, previously the National Counterterrorism Center director, will step in immediately as acting defense secretary.

President Trump on Monday said he fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and that Christopher Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will take over as acting defense secretary "effective immediately."

ā€œMark Esper has been terminated,ā€ Trump tweeted, his first ousting of a Cabinet official since the election was called for Democratic nominee Joe Biden. ā€œI would like to thank him for his service.ā€

President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday, an unprecedented move by a president struggling to accept election defeat and angry at a Pentagon leader he believes wasn’t loyal enough.

The decision, which could unsettle international allies and Pentagon leadership, injects another element of uncertainty to a rocky transition period as Joe Biden prepares to assume the presidency.