Biden backs top general on calls to China over Trump mental state
The US President says he has ‘great confidence’ in his senior military adviser, Mark Milley.
US President Joe Biden says he has “great confidence” in his senior military adviser, Mark Milley, after Republicans called for his ousting following allegations he had been in touch with his Chinese counterpart to ease tensions in the frenetic waning days of the Trump administration.
“I have great confidence in General Milley,” Mr Biden said on Thursday AEST.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff faced a barrage of criticism from Republicans after a new book disclosed he was so worried about Donald Trump’s mental state, fearing the former president could start a war or coup, he had twice phoned General Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army, to assure him the US wouldn’t attack.
Peril, by veteran investigative journalist Bob Woodward and Washington Post reporter Robert Costa, alleges General Milley went so far as to say he would notify General Li, before the US struck, if that decision was made.
The US has warned adversaries in the past before such attacks occur, including before a strike in Syria on Russian interests in April 2017.
The calls took place on October 30, days before the November election, and on January 8, two days after Mr Trump’s supporters stormed the capital in Washington in an effort to subvert the outcome of the presidential election, according to the book, scheduled for publication next Wednesday.
Mr Trump said on Wednesday he “never even thought of attacking China” and said General Milley should be tried for treason if the reports are true.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki struck back at Mr Trump, urging reporters to consider the context of the alleged calls. “Beyond reports in this book, there’s been widespread reporting and commentary from members of his own cabinet – the former president’s cabinet – including high-ranking national security officials, questioning the former president’s stability, his behaviour, and his suitability to oversee the national security of the United States,” she said.
A spokesman for General Milley, whose term expires in October 2023, acknowledged the calls had taken place. Such calls to military counterparts are routine and vital to improving mutual understanding, reducing tensions and “providing clarity and avoiding unintended consequences or conflict,” said spokesman Dave Butler. “His calls with the Chinese and others in October and January were in keeping with these duties and responsibilities conveying reassurance in order to maintain strategic stability,” Colonel Butler said.
Republican senator Marco Rubio said General Milley had worked to undermine a sitting commander in chief and “contemplated a treasonous leak of classified information to the Chinese Communist Party in advance of a potential armed conflict”.
Democrats defended General Milley. “It is a shame when you reach a point in America’s history that is necessary, and I think he did the responsible thing to keep America out of war,” said Dick Durbin the No. 2 Senate Democrat.
General Milley will appear before the Senate armed services committee on September 28 to address questions about Afghanistan but the issue of the calls to China is expected to come up.
Conservative critics of General Milley have been animated by his comments on critical race theory, and by what some believe are efforts to conduct social engineering across the military on gender and race.
“I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commissioned, non-commissioned officers of being, quote, ‘woke’ or something else, because we’re studying some theories that are out there,” General Milley told a House of Representatives hearing in June after being asked about reports that CRT was being taught at the US Military Academy West Point.
Woodward’s third book on the Trump presidency is based on 200 interviews with first-hand participants and witnesses.
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