Top military pick rankles Mattis

US President Donald Trump’s choice for the next Joint Chiefs of Staff goes against the wishes of Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

President Donald Trump, right, talks with Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley during a college football game in Philadelphia on Saturday. Picture: AP

Donald Trump will nominate Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley as his next top military adviser, a new slap in the face for Pentagon chief Jim Mattis.

General Milley, 60, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, would replace General Joseph Dunford as the military’s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Dunford is due to retire next October.

“I am thankful to both these ­incredible men for their service to our country!” Mr Trump announced on Twitter. “Mark is a great gentleman, great soldier. I look forward to that.”

But in choosing General Milley, Mr Trump went against the wishes of Mr Mattis, who reportedly favoured air force general David Goldfein.

That choice would have followed the tradition of rotating the post among the services.

General Dunford is in the Marine Corps. There has not been an air force officer in the chairman’s post since 2005.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made up of the heads of the air force, army, navy, Marine Corps and National Guard.

General Milley must be confirmed by the US Senate. He would take the position for a four-year term, after a law was passed last year doubling the term length.

Mr Trump said the transition date was “to be determined,” in a sign that General Dunford might go sooner rather than later.

After meeting General Milley and General Goldfein, it seems Mr Trump preferred the army general, who was more outgoing than the cerebral air force chief, and managed to lace his discussions with humour and historical references.

The Pentagon’s reaction to the announcement was somewhat frosty. “We are aware of the President’s nomination and share his confidence for General Mark Milley,” said Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews in a brief statement.

“The Department of Defence remains fully focused on defending our nation.”

Mr Mattis was once a favourite of Mr Trump, but the two have had increasing difficulties in ­recent months. They haven’t seen eye-to-eye over the Iran nuclear deal, which Mr Trump withdrew from over Mr Mattis’ objections; over the creation of a Space Force, which Mr Mattis did not want; and over the US-Mexico border and deployment of troops there.

AFP