Prominent military leaders who have come out against Trump’s actions

CNN — Military leaders are usually cautious about airing their political opinions, but over the week, several former top military officials, including former Defense Secretary James Mattis, have raised the alarm and spoken out, in strong terms, against President Donald Trump. The president’s speech was calculated to project his abject and arbitrary power, but he failed to project any of the higher emotions or leadership desperately needed in every quarter of this nation during this dire moment.” Navy Adm. Mike Mullen Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George W. Bush and Obama Op-ed for The Atlantic published June 2 “It sickened me yesterday to see security personnel—including members of the National Guard—forcibly and violently clear a path through Lafayette Square to accommodate the president’s visit outside St. John’s Church. I’m sure the senior military leadership is finding it really difficult these days to provide good, sound military advice.” Army Gen. Martin Dempsey Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Obama Interview with NPR on June 4 “The idea that the President would take charge of the situation using the military was troubling to me.” William Perry Former Defense Secretary served under Clinton Twitter, June 4 “I am outraged at the deplorable behavior of our President and Defense Secretary Esper, threatening to use American military forces to suppress peaceful demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights. This is a deeply shameful moment for our nation.” Navy Adm. William McRaven Former commander of US Special Operations Command under Obama Interview with MSNBC on June 5 “You’re not going to use, whether it’s the military, or the National Guard, or law enforcement, to clear peaceful American citizens for the President of the United States to do a photo op. Equally abhorrent to me was the inclusion of defense leaders in political theater.” Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel Former defense secretaries under Obama Joined Carter and 86 other former defense officials in Washington Post open letter on June 5 “As former leaders in the Defense Department — civilian and military, Republican, Democrat and independent — we all took an oath upon assuming office ‘to support and defend the Constitution of the United States’ as did the president and all members of the military, a fact that Gen. Milley pointed out in a recent memorandum to members of the armed forces.