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Hewitt talked about 5 different names who may function Trump’s protection secretary: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former nationwide safety adviser Robert O’Brien and Reps. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).
“That’s an excellent record to begin off with,” Trump stated, earlier than mentioning Miller.
Trump tapped Miller to be his appearing protection secretary on Nov. 9, 2020, after firing former Pentagon chief Mark Esper and a spate of different high Protection Division officers within the days after the presidential election. Miller, who was beforehand Trump’s director of the Nationwide Counterterrorism Middle, served on the high of the Pentagon till Trump left workplace on Jan. 20, 2021.
Miller’s tenure was brief however eventful. Shortly after moving into the job, he introduced Trump’s
ordered drawdown from Afghanistan and Iraq to only a few thousand troops in each international locations, a transfer Esper had resisted. His chief of employees as appearing protection secretary was Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes who performed a key function as a Hill staffer in serving to Republicans discredit the Russia probe.
Miller got here underneath fireplace for his response to the storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. He
accredited the deployment of the Nationwide Guard to assist the Capitol Police, however critics say the troops arrived hours too late. Miller defended his actions earlier than Congress, saying that he was involved that sending troops to the Capitol
would gas fears of a army coup.
He additionally stated Trump performed a job within the rebellion. “Would anyone have marched on the Capitol, and overrun the Capitol, with out the president’s speech? I believe it’s just about definitive that wouldn’t have occurred,” Miller stated in an
interview with VICE on Showtime.
Miller’s staff was additionally accused of
blocking the Biden transition staff from assembly with key DOD officers, however the Pentagon
denied these allegations.
“I’m humbled by President Trump’s feedback — he was remarkably efficient at defending People and advancing our Nation’s pursuits world wide. I used to be honored to play a small half,” Miller stated Friday when requested for remark. “I come from a household of public servants — when requested to serve, we reply the decision.”
He was lower than enthusiastic in regards to the job within the waning days of the Trump administration. Throughout a unprecedented assembly with reporters whereas flying again to Washington on Jan. 14, 2021, was requested about problematic weapons applications on the Pentagon, together with the tri-service F-35 fighter jet and the Navy’s littoral fight ships.
“I so … I imply, I can’t wait to go away this job, consider me,” he stated,
in accordance with an official DOD transcript. “However a part of me is like, I’d have beloved to have gotten concerned within the acquisition course of and take a look at … and you already know, speak about [a] depraved drawback.”
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