Latest news with #LisaFranchetti
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rahm Emanuel, wife launch scholarship for CPS ROTC students
The Brief Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his wife, Amy Rule, are funding a new CPS scholarship for Junior ROTC students. The $120,000 annual gift supports 12 students with $10,000 each for college, plus yearly ROTC support. The scholarship honors Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. CHICAGO - A group of Chicago Public Schools students in Junior ROTC programs received a major boost Monday, thanks to a new scholarship funded by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his wife, Amy Rule. What we know Twelve CPS students are the first recipients of the Lisa Franchetti ROTC Scholarship, an award created through a $120,000 annual gift from Emanuel and Rule. Each student will receive a $10,000 scholarship for college, with an additional $2,500 per year if they remain enrolled in ROTC. The scholarship is named in honor of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman and first ROTC graduate to become Chief of Naval Operations and to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Franchetti, reflecting on her career, told the students: "Looking back 40 years later, I can honestly say it was the journey of a lifetime. One that opened doors to leadership opportunities and experiences I never could have dreamed of." Emanuel emphasized the values behind the scholarship, telling students, "You don't just talk about what rights you have. You talk about and exemplify the responsibilities and thats what the ROTC program, when you put it all together, what it really is." What they're saying Emanuel said the scholarship was also a response to Franchetti's recent dismissal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "That's not the way to end somebody's 40-year career," Emanuel said. "This was my way of making sure that—that wasn't the last chapter and the last way it was written." Emanuel also linked the effort to his broader concerns about equity and opportunity: "A lot of kids have gotten the shaft from the system… the American Dream is unaffordable and inaccessible and that's unacceptable." The Source FOX 32's Dawn Hasbrouck reported on this story.
Politico
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Rahm teams up with fired Navy chief
Presented by Happy Monday, Illinois. And congrats to all the Peter Lisagor journalism award winners and nominees. Honored that Illinois Playbook won in the Best Newsletter category! TOP TALKER FIRST IN POLITICO: Rahm Emanuel has tapped retired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who led U.S. naval operations before she was fired by the Trump administration, to team up on his scholarship program for ROTC students in Chicago. The two will appear today at Rickover Naval Academy in Chicago to announce 12 recipients of the inaugural Admiral Lisa Franchetti ROTC Scholarship. Exclusive interview: 'I'm focused on and am passionate about developing the next generation of leaders,' Franchetti told your Playbook host of the Children First scholarship. The fund was started by Emanuel and is coordinated with Chicago Public Schools. School daze: Emanuel, who like Franchetti, studied at Northwestern, said 'it's frustrating' that her military career ended so abruptly. 'It's wrong on a thousand levels,' he said in an interview. 'The Navy was better. Our Armed Forces were better, and our values and our interests were better protected when Lisa Franchetti was on point.' But he adds, 'We're lucky to have her thinking and protecting and caring about service men and women' through the scholarship program. Our home page story is here. THE BUZZ FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Illinois House Democratic leader Kam Buckner has been named to the board of a national Democratic committee that funds state legislative races. Buckner, a Chicago Democrat who serves speaker pro tempore, is now a member of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which works to elect Democrats to state legislatures. The board is seen as integral to helping win elections, and Buckner and the six other new members will be tapped to address efforts to 'fight extremism' that pops up in elections. Buckner drew praise from the Democratic organization for his policy expertise and his ability to work well with colleagues. 'As a former college football player, he knows how to put aside personal differences and focus on what's best for his team,' according to a statement from the group. A NEW ERA FOR PLAYBOOK: Big news from POLITICO's flagship morning newsletter in Washington: Today we launch The Playbook Podcast, hosted by Author and Managing Editor Jack Blanchard and newly named Playbook Chief Correspondent Dasha Burns. Jack has already been skillfully decoding politics, policy and power in Washington, and now with Dasha, a proven force on the Trump beat, will deliver across platforms what makes Playbook essential: a clear, aggressively nonpartisan and deeply reported distillation of what matters now and why. Also joining the team: Adam Wren as Contributing Author for Playbook's Friday and Saturday editions, adding insight and sharp political reporting to your weekend reads. Sign up now to get Playbook delivered straight to your inbox. WHERE'S JB In D.C. for the SelectUSA Investment Summit to meet with CEOs and international trade partners WHERE's BRANDON No official public events Where's Toni No official public events Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a complaint? Email skapos@ BUSINESS OF POLITICS — BOST IS IN: Congressman Mike Bost has announced he's running for re-election in the 12th District, and he's already been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Bost launched his re-election campaign at last week's Monroe County GOP Century Club Dinner and announced on X that Trump has endorsed him. Bost, who has twice served as Illinois co-chair of Trump's campaign, boasts in his campaign announcement that he's 'earned Trump's endorsement in five consecutive election cycles.' The message: Republicans who have been thinking of challenging him should think twice before doing so. 'This Marine isn't finished fighting for the incredible people of Southern Illinois,' Bost said in a statement. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Illinois Blue PAC, the first federal political action committee organized for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton's Senate race has been launched. Chair of the PAC is David Lobl, a Chicago native who now lives in New York and has advised the governor there as well as the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Also heading the PAC: Mark Kalish, a former member of the Illinois House who leads the Health Care Council of Illinois PAC, public affairs consultant and former comms adviser to the governor Alex Hanns and his public affairs firm StrategyA, and CreoStrat media strategist Stephan Miller. The PAC operates separately from Stratton's political campaign, which allows the political action committee to raise an unlimited amount of funds to promote her as a candidate. — SCOOP: Congresswoman Robin Kelly is being endorsed by 18 members of the Congressional Black Caucus in her bid to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Congressman Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) is among those endorsing. The full list is here. — LABOR LOVE: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi secured the first labor endorsement of the U.S. Senate primary in Illinois, winning the support of Local 881 United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents 34,000 workers from the retail, cannabis, nursing home, barber and cosmetology industries. — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl is running for the open seat on the Democratic State Central Committee in the 10th District. Current committee member Melinda Bush has announced she's not running. Details and endorsements here — FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Judge Michael Zink is announcing his campaign today to fill the vacancy in the Cook County 20th subcircuit after Judge David Haracz's retirement. Zink was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in December to the position and now must run for the seat. ILLINOIS' POPE — Dolton hopes ties to Pope Leo XIV will burnish town's image and spur growth: 'The village has suffered after years of alleged corruption among village mayors past and more recently Tiffany Henyard, who was tossed out of office with the most recent election. … The selection of Robert Francis Prevost as pope could help bring businesses to Dolton, which is now the focus of attention,' by the Daily Southtown's Mike Nolan and Samantha Moilanen. — 'He's one of us': South Holland church celebrates bragging rights as Pope Leo XIV's de facto home parish, by the Tribune's Carolyn Stein — Peek inside the vacant South Side church where Pope Leo XIV got his start: 'St. Mary of the Assumption, the church that served as the pope's base, has been closed for years now,' via the Block Club. — How the new Pope Leo XIV's childhood church in Chicago fell into disrepair — and what may lie ahead, by the Tribune's Caroline Kubzansky — Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez has sent a letter inviting Pope Leo to visit his boyhood home. Read it here — Would you stay at Pope Leo's childhood home? By Curbed's Matthew Sedacca — 'Da Pope' bobbleheads unveiled, via the Sun-Times THE STATEWIDES — Domestic violence law named in memory of Karina Gonzalez took effect on Mother's Day: 'An immigrant woman from Mexico, who worked dead-end jobs and survived an abusive husband, will now go on to save the lives of other domestic violence victims,' said Manny Alvarez, Karina Gonzalez's son,' by the Sun-Times' Kaitlin Washburn. — 'Bare-knuckled fight' over drug discount bill in Springfield, by Crain's Jon Asplund — Lawmakers have just days to save Metra, Pace and CTA from massive cuts: 'The governance piece has been discussed ad infinitum, but there's been no robust vetting of how to solve the cash gap. Tax, toll and fee increases have been floated, which could mean an unwanted surprise for Illinoisans come late May,' by the Daily Herald's Marni Pyke. CHICAGO — AN ANNIVERSARY | Mayor Brandon Johnson's second year found him fighting unexpected battles: 'Though the harsh spotlight on Johnson's office on the fifth floor is nothing new, some of the thorniest issues the former Chicago Teachers Union organizer has battled his second year have come from unexpected fronts: education, and the city's political left. Those difficulties at times dominated his administration's attention and pushed him to expend political capital in ways he may not have predicted when he came into office as the city's most progressive mayor in 40 years,' by the Tribune's Alice Yin, Jake Sheridan and A.D. Quig. — Transit advocates push mayor, board for nationwide search for next CTA boss: 'Kevin Irvine, a former CTA board member, asked current board members not to approve Mayor Brandon Johnson's reported pick — city COO John Roberson — as CTA president during a special meeting,' by the Block Club's Mack Liederman and Manny Ramos. — The Catholic church's social service arm in Chicago uses Cozen O'Connor lobbying firm, which also represents abortion provider, by the Sun-Times' Robert Herguth Reader Digest We asked what political debate topic would be better decided by a game of rock scissors paper. Daniel G. Goldwin: 'Whether the Bears new stadium is in Arlington Heights or Chicago.' Lucas Hawley: 'The SALT tax bill issue currently infighting in Congress.' Anne Sommerkamp: 'Ending Citizens United.' Timothy Thomas: 'The old political saw of a billionaires tax ... as if a billionaire gets a weekly paycheck and a W2 at the end of the year.' NEXT QUESTION: Which fictional politician would actually make a decent real-life leader? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — CITY CRAWL: Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Sen. Dick Durbin, Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vásquez and House Democrats Vice Chair Congressman Ted Lieu of California took part in a business crawl Friday along Chicago's Milwaukee Avenue's business corridor. The goal was to celebrate Small Business Week. Along the way, business owners talked about the impact that the Trump administration's funding cuts and service reductions will have on the local economy, according to Ramirez's team. — Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) and Congress' only PhD physicist led 112 members of Congress in expressing concern that the Trump administration has directed the National Science Foundation to freeze all grant funding. Their letter is here. — Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) leads a list of House members calling on White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to reverse plans to eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Their memo is here. THE NATIONAL TAKE — States bear the brunt of House GOP Medicaid plan, by POLITICO's Ben Leonard and Robert King — Democrats are triggered by Biden's return to the spotlight, by POLITICO's Brakkton Booker — Trump is already obsessed with the midterms, by POLITICO's Rachael Bade — David Hogg tried pitching a compromise to the DNC. He was rebuffed, by POLITICO's Holly Otterbein TRANSITIONS — Dr. John J. Whyte has been named CEO of the American Medical Association. Whyte, who is chief medical officer of WebMD, starts July 1, via the AMA. — Eric Zylstra is now senior counsel in Michael Best's Intellectual Property Practice Group. He was senior associate at Squire Patton Boggs. — Andrew Velasquez III is now senior VP of Sierra Public Safety Group in Chicago. He was the former head of the City of Chicago Emergency Management and earlier was regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency. EVENTS — Thursday: Chicago Ald. Nicole Lee and Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita at an Asian American Heritage Month Fundraiser. Details here — Thursday: The founding of the North Lawndale Employment Network will be celebrated along with its Sweet Beginnings jobs program. Details here TRIVIA FRIDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Robert Christie for correctly answering that Gov. Frank Orren Lowden's father in-law was George Pullman, the inventor of the Pullman sleeping car and the founder of a company town in Chicago. TODAY's QUESTION: What Illinois-based company founded by a German immigrant grew nationwide to help Americans in transportation and recreation before it crashed in the 1990s? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY State Rep. Kam Buckner, former head of the United Nations World Food Programme Ertharin Cousin, Clark Hill senior counsel and former Ald. Latasha Thomas, Illinois Senate Dems Deputy Comms Director Adrianna Pitrelli and Yale MBA candidate Emily Harwell -30-
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rahm Emanuel teams up with fired Navy admiral
Retired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was unceremoniously fired by the Trump administration as leader of naval operations for the United States, has teamed up with Rahm Emanuel on a program that encourages young people to continue their ROTC service in college. 'I'm focused on and am passionate about developing the next generation of leaders,' Franchetti said of the Children First scholarship fund that Emanuel, a former ambassador to Japan and critic of President Donald Trump, started with Chicago Public Schools to benefit students in the ROTC programs. It's Franchetti's first public statement since Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired her in a management shift with the new administration. In an exclusive interview, Franchetti declined to talk about her controversial exit or recent executive orders affecting the military — but she opened up about promoting military service no matter who sits in the White House. 'ROTC and, more broadly, military service, opened the doors of opportunity for me 40 years ago, and I am confident it will do the same for today's scholarship recipients,' said Franchetti, who met Emanuel while he was ambassador of Japan and was pushing for an overhaul of the Navy's Japanese shipyard used by allied countries. The project was completed earlier this month. 'I think there are opportunities available to anyone who wants to raise their hand,' Franchetti said. Pressed on the new policy that bans transgender people from the military, Franchetti said, 'I don't want to make comments on any specific policies because I think the military is a great opportunity for everybody to serve.' On Monday, Franchetti is set to join Emanuel at Rickover Naval Academy, a high school in Chicago, to announce 12 recipients of the inaugural Admiral Lisa Franchetti ROTC Scholarship. The scholarship program has special meaning to Franchetti. She was an ROTC graduate who studied journalism at Northwestern University, where a chance meeting with ROTC students led to her getting a scholarship. 'I was the eldest of seven, and my dad said, 'Look around and see if there are any scholarship possibilities so everyone [in the family] can go to college,'' she recalled. 'I signed up and I never planned to make the military a career,' Franchetti said, describing the scholarship offering free books, tuition and a chance to see the world. She said she stuck with the military 'to serve something bigger than myself.' After 40 years of service, she said she hopes the new scholarships in her name help provide similar opportunities. The scholarship has meaning for Emanuel, too. His son joined the Navy Reserves, which helped influence the former Chicago mayor's decision to start a scholarship program for students interested in national service. Emanuel, who also studied at Northwestern, said 'it's frustrating' that Franchetti's military career ended so abruptly. 'I think this is wrong on a thousand levels,' Emanuel said of her firing. 'The Navy was better. Our Armed Forces were better and our values and our interests were better protected when Lisa Franchetti was on point.' But he adds, 'We're lucky to have her thinking and protecting and caring about service men and women' through the scholarship program.
Axios
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
U.S. Navy leaders agree: "Embrace the robots"
The cross-country chatter these past weeks, at the Surface Navy Association conference and at WEST, proves one thing: The unmanned obsession is very real inside the U.S. Navy. Why it matters: Look at Ukraine and the Black Sea beatings it hands out. Look at the Red Sea and Houthi persistence. Look at the Pentagon's J-books, the online think pieces and where elite units are splurging. The future — mechanical, intelligent, overwhelming — is today smacking us in the face. Driving the news: U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command boss Rear Adm. Milton Sands told crowds in San Diego the military must "embrace the robots," as "machine-on-machine fighting" rages and humans stick to safer margins. "Manned-unmanned teaming is the future," he said. Zoom in: The Navigation Plans of Adm. Lisa Franchetti and her predecessor, retired Adm. Michael Gilday, back this up. On the water, drone boats and robo-subs are augmenting the firepower of more traditional, more expensive ships. They are also monitoring around the clock far-flung places otherwise ignored. L3Harris Technologies is mounting onto vessels its Vampire weapon used in Ukraine. Live-fire trials are expected by April. "If you can take out one-third or two-thirds or three-quarters of threats with a $25,000 missile — versus a million-dollar missile — that's helpful," Jon Rambeau, president of integrated mission systems, told Axios on the conference sidelines. Saab is working with Microsoft, Hidden Level, Second Front and others on maritime autonomy and the Enforcer 3, a souped-up Combat Boat 90. During an exclusive tour of the ship, docked outside the San Diego Convention Center, Second Front chief revenue officer TJ Rowe told Axios: "We need an ability to push software capabilities to the edge, whether that is a maritime platform or airborne platform." Saildrone, meanwhile, is supplying 20 Voyager unmanned surface vessels for Operation Southern Spear, to monitor illegal activity in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. It's the single largest deployment yet. In the air, drones have proven their prowess. From deadly strikes to stealthy surveillance to remote resupply, their applications abound. "We will fly MQ-25 in '25. You can quote me on that," Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces, said at WEST. Boeing years ago won an $805 million contract to design, build and deliver the MQ-25 Stingray, an unmanned tanker. The Navy in August said the first control room was installed aboard the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush. "We will fly that platform in '25, get that thing on the carrier in '26 and start integrating that thing," Cheever added. "That unlocks the future of manned-unmanned teaming." Separately, the Marine Corps' updated aviation plan hails unmanned aircraft as essential. What they're saying: "Twenty years ago, there were articles [saying] precision might be the new mass," 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher said. "Well, I think mass is the new mass, to be quite honest with you." Yes, but: All these systems must work together, in sync with tech from other militaries and in places flooded with jamming and spoofing. That's no easy feat, and is motivation to get right Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control. What we're watching: How everything unmanned aids Taiwan's defense — or scares off a Chinese invasion in the first place. "You've heard my boss' boss, Adm. [Samuel] Paparo, speak to Hellscape," Kacher said. "I'll let his comments stand on their own, because I could not say them better." Flashback: The Navy last year rolled out the robotics warfare specialist rating, dubbing it"a major milestone" in the "relentless march to achieve a truly hybrid fleet." Those who go that route are expected to be computer vision, navigation autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning gurus. The bottom line: We are at a tech tipping point, according to Adm. Stephen Koehler, commander of the Pacific Fleet. And the service, he said at WEST, is already "laying the keel for the hybrid fleet."
Egypt Independent
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Why Trump wants to own the Pentagon
CNN — In a dramatic Friday night purge, President Donald Trump took decisive action to avoid a repeat of his first term when he tussled with senior military leaders, by firing America's top general and removing others in an effort to ensure he has a fully compliant Pentagon. At a good time to try and bury major news— Trump's most senior military adviser, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Charles 'CQ' Brown and the top US navy officer, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti were both fired. Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced he is seeking nominations to replace the top military lawyers at the Air Force, Army and Navy who sign off on the legality of US military operations. None of these officials seem to have been fired for cause, such as poor performance on the battlefield or insubordination, other than a purported obsession with DEI in the case of General Brown, according to Hegseth's 2024 book. Trump wants to remake the Pentagon, so he has total control over it. Of course, he is the Commander in Chief so it's his prerogative to do so, but by firing Brown who is Black and Franchetti who was the first woman to run the Navy, Trump signaled that unquestioned loyalty will be the key qualification for these jobs rather than providing the best military advice to the president irrespective of American domestic politics, which is meant to be the key function of the roles. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown Jr. listens to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth answer reporters' questions before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 5 in Arlington, Lisa Franchetti testifies during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on her reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Chief of Naval Operations in September 2023. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Trump has been obsessed with the US military from an early age. He attended a military-style boarding school in New York and one of his heroes is General George Patton, an aggressive battlefield commander during World War II. So, when Trump took office in his first term, he quickly surrounded himself with senior generals; retired four-star General John Kelly was his second chief of staff; retired four-star General James Mattis was his first secretary of defense and active duty three-star Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster was his second national security adviser. Trump reveled in talking about 'my generals' such as 'Mad Dog' Mattis, and he also took a boyish delight in the ceremonial aspects of being the commander in chief. Trump was wowed by the French display of military hardware that he saw at the Bastille Day celebration in Paris on July 14, 2016. Trump ordered the Pentagon to put on a similar show for his 'Salute to America' Independence Day speech on July 4, 2019, and the generals didn't disappoint. During his speech, Trump did a play-by-play account of a fly-by of advanced US Air Force planes flying overhead, announcing, 'You will soon see beautiful brand-new F-22 Raptors' and 'a magnificent B-2 stealth bomber.' But Trump's bromances with his generals soured over time (nota bene, Elon!) because Kelly, Mattis and McMaster each in their different ways wouldn't comply with Trump's wishes, as I found when I was reporting my book, 'Trump and His Generals: The Cost of Chaos.' McMaster wore out his welcome with Trump, in part, because he advocated for staying the course in Afghanistan and expanding the US troop presence there. Trump had long wanted to get out of Afghanistan and after McMaster was eased out after just over a year on the job, Trump authorized his team to start negotiating with the Taliban a total US withdrawal from Afghanistan. For his part, Mattis worried that Trump would start World War III and when in 2017, Trump was ratcheting up his rhetoric against the nuclear-armed North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, Mattis 'slow rolled' providing potential military options against North Korea. Mattis also delayed providing military options, for any kind of potential conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump speaks as national security advisor H.R. McMaster, left, White House chief of staff John Kelly, second left, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, right, listen during a briefing with senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in October 2017. Andrew Harrer/Pool/Getty Images Trump's final break with Mattis came over the fight against ISIS in Syria. Mattis believed US troops should stay in Syria after ISIS's defeat there to prevent any return of the terrorist group, while Trump insisted on withdrawing from Syria. Mattis also felt that this left the Syrian Kurdish forces that had been fighting ISIS vulnerable to attack by the powerful Turkish military and would mean abandoning an ally on the battlefield. On December 19, 2018, Trump tweeted about his order to pull all US troops out of Syria. The following day Mattis met with Trump in the Oval Office and tried to persuade the president to reverse his decision. Trump wouldn't budge so Mattis resigned. Kelly, Trump's chief of staff, viewed his time in the White House by what he'd managed to prevent on his watch, for instance, Trump abruptly pulling US troops out of Afghanistan, or withdrawing from NATO. Trump hates being 'managed' so his relationship with Kelly soured too and he left the White House in December 2018. President Donald Trump holds up a Bible outside of St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC, on June 1, 2020. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images/FILE A decisive break between Trump and many US flag officers came during the nationwide protests sparked by the murder by Minneapolis police of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Just outside the White House grounds on June 3, police, with National Guard troops in reserve, attacked peaceful protesters near St. John's Church. At the church Trump held up a Bible for the cameras. After resigning Mattis had said little about Trump. Now he released a damning statement saying: 'Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.' Trump's then-Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, a former officer in the US Army who had replaced Mattis, publicly said that he would not support using active-duty US troops to quell protests which Trump had recently threatened to do. Esper was fired by tweet six months later. Yet another break with the Pentagon happened following the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol by Trump supporters. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley called his Chinese counterpart to assure him that there was no chance of the US launching a military attack against China. On Twitter Trump then suggested that Milley should be executed for his conversation with the Chinese general. The scar tissue from Trump's past fights with Pentagon leaders has resulted in Trump's intention to take total control over the Department of Defense. We saw a hint of that in the final months of his first term when Trump installed an ultra-loyalist, Kash Patel, to the powerful job of chief of staff at the Pentagon. Patel was recently voted in by the Senate to become the new director of the FBI. Trump expects nothing less than Patel-levels of loyalty in his generals and top officials at the Pentagon. And Friday night's purge of six senior military officers is likely to be just the aperitif since Hegseth is now looking for tens of billions of dollars of cuts at his department and he'll likely have to lose significant numbers of personnel.
