Retired General Milley Labels Trump a "Fascist to the Core"

Retired Gen. Mark Milley, who served over four decades in the U.S. military, made headlines with some striking remarks about former President Donald Trump. In his retirement speech, Milley subtly emphasized the importance of the military’s loyalty to the Constitution rather than to any individual, stating, “We don’t take an oath to a king, or a queen, to a tyrant or dictator — or wannabe dictator.” While many speculated that these words were directed at Trump, Milley didn’t clarify publicly at that time.

However, in a new book by Bob Woodward, associate editor of The Washington Post, Milley abandoned subtlety. According to Woodward’s forthcoming work, Milley described Trump as a “fascist to the core” and “the most dangerous person to this country,” expressing his deep concern over the prospect of Trump’s re-election as the Republican nominee.

Milley’s strong views stem from his firsthand experience with Trump, who personally selected him to serve as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Working closely with Trump for more than a year, Milley observed the former president’s actions and behavior. Reflecting on this, he told Woodward, “No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump. Now I realize he’s a total fascist.”

The retired general also mentioned fears of being court-martialed if Trump were to win another term, despite no longer being in active service. His concerns are not unfounded. Mark Esper, Trump’s former Defense Secretary, revealed that Trump had previously sought to have retired military leaders, such as Stanley McChrystal and William McRaven, court-martialed for publicly criticizing him. While court-martialing civilians is not legally possible, Trump had reportedly discussed recalling the retired officers to active duty so that they could be formally punished.

During and after his tenure, Trump frequently targeted Milley with personal attacks, labeling him a “dumbass” and an “idiot.” Last fall, Trump escalated his rhetoric, falsely accusing Milley of a “treasonous act” after Trump’s 2020 election loss. Trump even suggested that, in earlier times, such an offense would be punishable by death, a statement he shared on his social media platform.

Though Milley dismissed the accusations as baseless, the hostility led him to take measures to ensure the safety of his family, fearing potential threats from Trump’s followers.

This situation highlights a disturbing trend in U.S. political life. A former president has accused his handpicked Joint Chiefs chairman of treason, prompting the decorated general to worry about his family’s safety. Yet, the Republican Party appears unfazed, and there remains a possibility that Americans could see Trump return to power.