In the initial moments of his presidency, even before his inauguration was complete, President Donald Trump directed his anger and retribution towards one individual: retired Army General Mark Milley, who held the position of the highest-ranking military officer during Trump’s first term.

On January 20, the day Trump took the oath of office, Milley’s recently unveiled portrait from his tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was discreetly taken down from a hallway in the Pentagon that honors all former chairmen. Just a week later, another portrait of Milley, a retired Green Beret with over four decades of service, depicting his time as Army chief of staff, was also removed.

Milley’s ordeal continued as Trump’s newly appointed Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, declared the termination of Milley’s security detail and launched an investigation into the retired general, exploring the possibility of stripping him of one of his stars in retirement.

The ultimate insult for Milley may have been the silence that followed Trump’s overt retaliation, as the president had campaigned on the promise of punishing his political adversaries.

Support for Milley has been scarce, and even the military, to which the four-star general dedicated many years, has refrained from defending him.

A recently retired general remarked that Milley is “as radioactive as it gets.”

A US Military web site contacted nearly a dozen active and retired general officers to gather their perspectives on the actions taken by the Trump administration against Milley. None were willing to comment, even under the assurance of anonymity to shield them from potential backlash, a common practice that allows officials to express their views freely without fear of retribution.

The decision to keep Milley at arm’s length, even in an anonymous capacity, underscores the significant apprehension regarding the threats posed by Trump and his supporters to those who may dissent.

The president’s attempts to undermine Milley’s legacy and impose consequences during his retirement seem to be without precedent in recent times. Supporters of Trump contend that they are seeking to hold Milley accountable for what they perceive as a betrayal during the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Milley communicated with his Chinese counterpart to reassure them that the U.S. was not on the brink of military conflict.

In his retirement farewell address, Milley refrained from mentioning Trump directly but emphasized that military personnel “do not take an oath to a wannabe dictator. … We do not take an oath to an individual.”

“We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the ideals that define America, and we are prepared to sacrifice our lives to defend it,” he stated.

Milley Erased from Pentagon Legacy

The act of removing a portrait may appear insignificant, yet the Pentagon serves as more than just an office environment; its extensive corridors are vibrant memorials to military history and tradition.

In addition to each branch of the military honoring its achievements and legacy, the Pentagon houses numerous tributes to leaders, heroes, and significant battles that date back to the nation’s inception and the establishment of the armed services. The building features portraits of secretaries of war, historical artifacts, and intricate dioramas, including one that showcases two Huey helicopter cabs from the Vietnam War era.

Among these exhibits are corridors adorned with portraits of every chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as a dedicated hallway for the Army’s chiefs of staff.

Currently, both hallways exhibit voids where Milley’s portrait once resided, effectively erasing his contributions from the ongoing narrative of the Defense Department’s headquarters. An editorial published on Thursday characterized this action as a “Soviet-style” purge.

Despite the significance of this removal, the reaction from various sectors has been notably muted.

The Pentagon, which is evidently involved in the portrait removals, has refrained from commenting.

Officials from the defense secretary’s office indicated they had no remarks regarding the removal of the first portrait and suggested inquiries be directed to the Army concerning the second. The Army, in turn, referred back to the secretary’s office.

The office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, currently occupied by Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, has not provided any comments regarding the situation.

Pentagon officials have refrained from disclosing who authorized the removal.

Interestingly, organizations and individuals that would typically support a general facing criticism have also chosen to remain quiet.

When media contacted both the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), which advocate for soldiers and military officers, respectively, but neither organization offered any statements concerning Milley’s treatment.

In contrast, when Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., delayed the promotions of numerous senior military officers in 2023 to pressure the Pentagon into reversing its policy on travel and leave for service members seeking abortions, MOAA quickly defended the generals.

During the nearly year-long hold, Tuberville contended that the Pentagon had an excess of generals and admirals and claimed that the military is currently at its weakest point in his lifetime.

Retired Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, head of MOAA, criticized Tuberville’s comments as “insults … that demean and disrespect the sacrifices they make in defending our nation.”

In a letter published in November 2023, Kelly noted, “Future service members are watching this display of political theater and are reconsidering their decision to serve.”

Milley’s time as chairman was marked by significant challenges, facing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats at different points for his perspectives on military diversity and his responses during the intense national protests that erupted after George Floyd’s death.

The most notable conflict between the Army general and Trump arose following the events at the Capitol on January 6. In the aftermath of the insurrection, Milley reached out to Chinese General Li Zuocheng on two occasions.

“My objective at that moment was to deescalate,” Milley stated to senators that year, emphasizing his intention to alleviate concerns among Chinese military leaders regarding a potential U.S. attack during the chaotic presidential transition marked by violence.

Milley expressed confidence that the former president “did not intend to attack China, and it is my explicit duty to communicate presidential orders and intentions,” he remarked.

During his 2023 reelection campaign, Trump asserted that Milley would have faced severe consequences “in earlier times” for making that call.

Nonetheless, Milley is not the first military leader to find himself at odds with civilian authorities. In the 1950s, during the Korean War, General Douglas MacArthur had a significant disagreement with President Harry Truman regarding the war’s strategy. MacArthur ultimately directed his forces to invade North Korea and advance beyond the 38th parallel, undermining Truman’s attempts to negotiate a ceasefire.

The Truman Library website noted that this was not the first instance in which the general disregarded explicit orders from his commander in chief.

MacArthur was relieved of his duties in April 1951 but returned home to a hero’s reception. Since 1981, the Pentagon has dedicated an entire hallway to honor the general’s military career, featuring displays of his medals, uniforms, and personal belongings.

The exhibit avoids mentioning his dismissal, instead stating that he was one of the few five-star generals in the military who was ordered to relinquish his command.

As Milley’s career came to a close, he also received some glowing tributes in the media. Extensive articles based on interviews with him portrayed him as a guardian of the Constitution during a particularly challenging period for the nation.

Milley Investigated, Security Deal Nixed

In addition to the immediate removal of Milley’s image from the Pentagon, officials from the Trump administration took steps late one Tuesday to revoke his security detail authorization and suspend his security clearance.

Hegseth has also instructed the DoD IG to investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding General Milley’s actions, allowing the secretary to assess whether it is appropriate to revisit his military grade review determination, as stated by Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot.

If Milley is ultimately demoted, the resulting adjustment in his retirement benefits could lead to a financial loss amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout the remainder of his life.

The decision to revoke Milley’s security detail occurs at a time when several former officials from the Trump administration are facing threats from Iran, a consequence of the hardline policies adopted during his presidency, particularly the military operation that resulted in the death of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani, who led the Quds Force, the international branch of the elite Revolutionary Guards.

On Sunday, multiple Republican lawmakers expressed their genuine concerns regarding the safety of John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, two other officials who had their security details removed by Trump, seemingly as part of a retaliatory strategy.

According to a report by The Guardian, a former senior official from the Biden administration indicated that the Trump administration was “well aware” of the “active threats” posed to these former officials, labeling the action as “highly irresponsible.”

The decision to remove Milley’s security detail has also prompted some expressions of support from Democratic lawmakers.

On Wednesday, Senator Jack Reed, D.-R.I., the leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that it was “unconscionable and recklessly negligent” for President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to withdraw General Milley’s security detail for their own political gain.

The administration has put General Milley and his family in significant jeopardy, and it is their responsibility to promptly reinstate his federal protection, Reed stated in a written statement.

In addition, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, remarked that “the removal of Gen. Milley’s security measures establishes a perilous precedent—one that could deter both current service members and those contemplating military service.”

On Tuesday, journalists observed that a portrait of Mark Esper had been taken down from the corridor designated for Army secretaries, who are the civilian leaders of the service. Esper held this position during the initial Trump administration before being appointed as defense secretary.

Trump subsequently dismissed him from that role shortly after losing the election to Joe Biden.

Esper had anticipated his dismissal for some time, particularly due to his disagreements with Trump on various matters, the most significant being his opposition to deploying active-duty troops against protesters during the peak of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.