Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said Sunday that President Donald Trump has taken the use of the military as a “prop” to “a new level.”
In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet The Press,” Gates said Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley “really wrestled” with his apology for a June 1 appearance at Trump’s side at St. John's Episcopal church after authorities cleared protesters in Lafayette Square using pepper spray and rubber bullets.
“All presidents that I worked for liked to use the military as a prop,” Gates said. “I think this president's probably taken that to a new level.
“But the military has to be very sensitive about being exploited in that way.”
Gates called Milley “a man of great integrity” who “takes his responsibilities as an apolitical military officer very seriously.”
“I think the important thing was that he made the statement, made it with all sincerity and frankly, I think that, plus his statement, written statement to senior commanders around the world about the apolitical nature of the American military sent a powerful signal and reemphasized the importance of the military staying out of politics and frankly, not getting used.”
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