Trump was talked out of firing Esper last week: report
By Ellen Mitchell - 06/09/20 05:39 PM EDT
President Trump reportedly wanted to dismiss Defense Secretary Mark Esper last week over conflicting views on the use of active-duty troops to quell nationwide protests, but was talked out of it by advisers and lawmakers.
Officials told The Wall Street Journal that Trump — angry with Esper for not backing his threats to use active-duty forces to quash unrest in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis and other cities — was focused on sacking the Pentagon chief last Wednesday.
But when Trump asked several advisers for their opinions on the matter, he was reportedly counseled to shelve such a plan.
Esper at the same time had started to prepare a letter of resignation as he was aware of Trump’s anger, but stopped after aides and other advisers pressed against it, some of the officials told the Journal.
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https://thehill.com/policy/defense/501930-trump-was-talked-out-of-firing-esper-last-week-report