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Top general Mark Milley apologizes for part in Trump's church photo-op – live Top general Mark Milley apologizes for part in Trump's church photo-op – live
(32 minutes later)
Gen Mark Milley says ‘I should not have been there’ of incident last week, in which peaceful protesters were removed using teargasGen Mark Milley says ‘I should not have been there’ of incident last week, in which peaceful protesters were removed using teargas
Here is the video of General Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, apologizing for participating in Trump’s photo op at St John’s Church: Various measures of support for the Black Lives Matter movement were agreed upon at Thursday’s meeting for the restarted Premier League.
A minute’s silence will also be held before each match in the first round of the restarted league to honour those who have died with Covid-19, and heart-shaped badges paying tribute to NHS workers will be embroidered into team kit.
The Guardian understands that the league will have no problem if players or teams wish to take a knee before games, as some clubs have done before recent friendlies. The names on the back of players’ shirts will be replaced, for at least the first set of games, by the words Black Lives Matter, following an initiative driven by club captains this week. One club explained that their kit staff had been primed to order shirts reflecting the change.
Black Lives Matter badges are also likely to be displayed on shirts, along with their NHS equivalents, although their exact placement is yet to be finalised.
The issue of what happens if a player removes his shirt to reveal a slogan in support of the movement was raised, after referees expressed concerns about the appropriateness of issuing a mandatory yellow card in such cases. Officials are expected to be asked to use their discretion.
Meanwhile, the president is being mocked on social media for referring to the US secret service as “SS,” the name of the Nazi military organization that helped to run Adolf Hitler’s death camps.
Trump tweeted this morning, “Our great National Guard Troops who took care of the area around the White House could hardly believe how easy it was. ‘A walk in the park’, one said. The protesters, agitators, anarchists (ANTIFA), and others, were handled VERY easily by the Guard, D.C. Police, & S.S. GREAT JOB!”
A Bloomberg reporter responded by sharing the history of the Nazi SS:
An AFP editor noted the secret service is usually referred to as USSS for obvious reasons:
The anti-Trump conservative commentator Bill Kristol offered the president this advice on the matter:
Here is the video of Gen Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, apologizing for participating in Trump’s photo op at St John’s Church:
“As senior leaders, everything you do will be closely watched, and I am not immune,” the top military official told the graduates of the National Defense University in a prerecorded commencement address.“As senior leaders, everything you do will be closely watched, and I am not immune,” the top military official told the graduates of the National Defense University in a prerecorded commencement address.
“As many of you saw the result of the photograph of me at Lafayette Square last week, that sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society. I should not have been there,” Milley continued.“As many of you saw the result of the photograph of me at Lafayette Square last week, that sparked a national debate about the role of the military in civil society. I should not have been there,” Milley continued.
“My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it.”“My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from, and I sincerely hope we all can learn from it.”
General Mark Milley has been “agonized” about participating in Trump’s photo op and expressed anger with the president about the issue, according to the New York Times. Gen Mark Milley has been “agonized” about participating in Trump’s photo op and expressed anger with the president about the issue, according to the New York Times.
The Times reports:The Times reports:
General Mark Milley’s apology comes amid another standoff between the White House and the Pentagon over the potential renaming of military bases named after Confederate generals. Gen Mark Milley’s apology comes amid another standoff between the White House and the Pentagon over the potential renaming of military bases named after Confederate generals.
Milley and Esper signaled earlier this week that they were open to a conversation on renaming the bases, after years of critics complaining the bases’ names celebrated the Confederacy’s efforts to preserve slavery.Milley and Esper signaled earlier this week that they were open to a conversation on renaming the bases, after years of critics complaining the bases’ names celebrated the Confederacy’s efforts to preserve slavery.
However, Trump announced yesterday that he would “not even consider” renaming the bases. The president also tweeted moments ago, “THOSE THAT DENY THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT!”However, Trump announced yesterday that he would “not even consider” renaming the bases. The president also tweeted moments ago, “THOSE THAT DENY THEIR HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT!”
Of course, the more common quote is, “Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” Critics of the bases’ names would almost certainly argue that removing the names of generals who actively fought against the US military from Army bases is an appropriate way of remembering the past.Of course, the more common quote is, “Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” Critics of the bases’ names would almost certainly argue that removing the names of generals who actively fought against the US military from Army bases is an appropriate way of remembering the past.
The apology from General Mark Milley, the nation’s top military officer, comes after he and defense secretary Mark Esper received widespread criticism for participating in Trump’s photo op. The apology from Gen Mark Milley, the nation’s top military officer, comes after he and defense secretary Mark Esper received widespread criticism for participating in Trump’s photo op.
Former defense officials accused the two officials of giving the appearance of a Pentagon stamp of approval on the forcible removal of peaceful protesters using tear gas.Former defense officials accused the two officials of giving the appearance of a Pentagon stamp of approval on the forcible removal of peaceful protesters using tear gas.
“The decision to use active military forces in crowd control in the United States should only be made as a last resort,” Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant defense secretary under Trump, told Politico. “Active Army and Marine Corps units are trained to fight our nation’s enemies, not their fellow Americans. American cities are not battlefields.”“The decision to use active military forces in crowd control in the United States should only be made as a last resort,” Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant defense secretary under Trump, told Politico. “Active Army and Marine Corps units are trained to fight our nation’s enemies, not their fellow Americans. American cities are not battlefields.”
One member of the defense science board actually resigned in protest of Esper’s participation in the photo op, which took place moments after the protesters were removed.One member of the defense science board actually resigned in protest of Esper’s participation in the photo op, which took place moments after the protesters were removed.
“You may not have been able to stop President Trump from directing this appalling use of force, but you could have chosen to oppose it. Instead, you visibly supported it,” James Miller wrote in his resignation letter to Esper.“You may not have been able to stop President Trump from directing this appalling use of force, but you could have chosen to oppose it. Instead, you visibly supported it,” James Miller wrote in his resignation letter to Esper.
General Mark Milley’s apology for participating in Trump’s photo op makes it very likely that the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff will soon be on the receiving end of a negative presidential tweet. Gen Mark Milley’s apology for participating in Trump’s photo op makes it very likely that the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff will soon be on the receiving end of a negative presidential tweet.
The president is notoriously sensitive to having senior officials publicly distance themselves from him, and he was reportedly on the brink of firing Mark Esper last week after the defense secretary said he did not support Trump’s proposal to send active-duty troops to states with George Floyd protests.The president is notoriously sensitive to having senior officials publicly distance themselves from him, and he was reportedly on the brink of firing Mark Esper last week after the defense secretary said he did not support Trump’s proposal to send active-duty troops to states with George Floyd protests.
Esper has not apologized for participating in the photo op, telling reporters last week that he was not aware he would be taking part in it when he came to the White House to meet with Trump.Esper has not apologized for participating in the photo op, telling reporters last week that he was not aware he would be taking part in it when he came to the White House to meet with Trump.
Gen Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has apologized for participating in Trump’s photo op at St John’s Church last week, which took place moments after nearby peaceful protesters were removed using teargas.Gen Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has apologized for participating in Trump’s photo op at St John’s Church last week, which took place moments after nearby peaceful protesters were removed using teargas.
“I should not have been there,” Milley told the National Defense University in a prerecorded video commencement address. “My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.”“I should not have been there,” Milley told the National Defense University in a prerecorded video commencement address. “My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.”
Milley and defense secretary Mark Esper were widely criticized for participating in the photo op, with many former defense officials saying the two were helping Trump’s efforts to politicize the military.Milley and defense secretary Mark Esper were widely criticized for participating in the photo op, with many former defense officials saying the two were helping Trump’s efforts to politicize the military.
“As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from,” Milley said, going on to described his anger about “the senseless and brutal killing of George Floyd.”“As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from,” Milley said, going on to described his anger about “the senseless and brutal killing of George Floyd.”
The Senate armed services committee has adopted an amendment for the Pentagon to rename military sites named after Confederate generals within three years, according to CNN.The Senate armed services committee has adopted an amendment for the Pentagon to rename military sites named after Confederate generals within three years, according to CNN.
The proposal was adopted by the Republican-led panel behind closed doors as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill, which could make it more difficult for Trump to veto.The proposal was adopted by the Republican-led panel behind closed doors as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill, which could make it more difficult for Trump to veto.
If the amendment makes it into the final version of the defense bill, the president would have to veto a number of popular proposals for the Pentagon in order to prevent the base renaming initiative from moving forward.If the amendment makes it into the final version of the defense bill, the president would have to veto a number of popular proposals for the Pentagon in order to prevent the base renaming initiative from moving forward.
CNN reports:CNN reports:
The news comes one day after Trump said he would “not even consider” renaming the bases, and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany specifically said the president would veto the defense authorization bill if it included a proposal to do so.The news comes one day after Trump said he would “not even consider” renaming the bases, and press secretary Kayleigh McEnany specifically said the president would veto the defense authorization bill if it included a proposal to do so.
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
Trump’s most recent tweet that the National Guard troops who patrolled Washington amid the George Floyd protests “could hardly believe how easy it was” is at odds with recent reports about the troops.Trump’s most recent tweet that the National Guard troops who patrolled Washington amid the George Floyd protests “could hardly believe how easy it was” is at odds with recent reports about the troops.
The New York Times reports:The New York Times reports:
Donald Trump is up and tweeting, and is straight on the attack against “Antifa”.Donald Trump is up and tweeting, and is straight on the attack against “Antifa”.
This is somewhat in contrast to Trump’s final tweets last night, where he was labelling protesters in Seattle “domestic terrorists”, and not “a walk in the park” at all.This is somewhat in contrast to Trump’s final tweets last night, where he was labelling protesters in Seattle “domestic terrorists”, and not “a walk in the park” at all.
Axios has an interesting note about the next New York Times bestseller list. The top ten entries on the ‘combined print and e-nook non-fiction list’ are absolutely dominated by titles that focus on race in the US.Axios has an interesting note about the next New York Times bestseller list. The top ten entries on the ‘combined print and e-nook non-fiction list’ are absolutely dominated by titles that focus on race in the US.
The top five consists of:The top five consists of:
You can read the full list here.You can read the full list here.
It has been similar in the UK, where Bernardine Evaristo and Reni Eddo-Lodge have become the first black British women to top the UK’s fiction and nonfiction paperback charts.It has been similar in the UK, where Bernardine Evaristo and Reni Eddo-Lodge have become the first black British women to top the UK’s fiction and nonfiction paperback charts.
And if you are wondering which books might be useful for your children at this moment in time, Aimée Felone has this list: ‘No reader is too young to start’: anti-racist books for all children and teensAnd if you are wondering which books might be useful for your children at this moment in time, Aimée Felone has this list: ‘No reader is too young to start’: anti-racist books for all children and teens