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November 10, 2020

Trump Fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper
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In Washington, D.C., President Trump has fired Defense Secretary Mark
Esper. This comes months after Esper clashed with Trump by opposing the
deployment of active-duty troops to respond to the nationwide protests
sparked by the police killing of George Floyd. On Monday, Trump
announced Christopher Miller, the director of the National
Counterterrorism Center, would serve as acting defense secretary.
Senator Ron Wyden responded on Twitter by writing, "Donald Trump fired
someone who wouldn't order U.S. troops to attack peaceful protesters and
is replacing him with someone he may think will carry out those orders."

In a second tweet, Wyden wrote: "I opposed Chris Miller's nomination
because he refused to promise that intelligence agencies wouldn't target
Americans based on their political views. He should remember that anyone
who carries out an illegal order from Donald Trump will be held fully
accountable under the law." During an interview last week with the
Military Times, Esper suggested that he would soon be fired because he
stood up to Trump. He said, "Who's going to come in behind me? It's
going to be a real 'yes man.' And then God help us."


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