Donald Trump has fired retired army general Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, as his administration begins a mass purge of presidential appointees from the previous administration. Milley, who served as chair of the joint chiefs of staff under both Trump and Joe Biden, had become a fierce critic of Trump, branding him “a total fascist”.
Trump announced the firing on his Truth Social platform, stating that his administration is “actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand presidential appointees from the previous administration”. The purge has also claimed celebrity chef and human rights activist José Andrés, former Trump special envoy for Iran Brian Hook, and former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, said on X that he had already resigned last week, contradicting Trump’s claim of being fired. He expressed hope that Trump would continue the council’s work on fitness and health as bipartisan issues.
Milley’s removal follows a pre-emptive pardon from Biden on Monday, one of his final acts in office. Trump has previously called Milley’s phone call to Chinese officials after the January 6 insurrection a “treasonous act” warranting death. A portrait of Milley was ordered removed from the Pentagon on Monday, according to the New York Times.
