“The protests that have ensued not only speak to his killing, but also to the centuries of injustice toward African-Americans,” General Milley said. Floyd, spoke at length about the issue of race, both in the military and in civilian society. Trump during the walk, an act that critics said gave a stamp of military approval to the hard-line tactics used to clear the protesters.ĭuring his speech on Thursday, General Milley, after expressing his disgust over the video of the killing of Mr. General Milley’s friends said that for the past 10 days, he had agonized about appearing - in the combat fatigues he wears every day to work - behind Mr. We who wear the cloth of our nation come from the people of our nation, and we must hold dear the principle of an apolitical military that is so deeply rooted in the very essence of our republic. 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 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. Milley, the top military official in the United States, apologized for his role in President Trump’s walk across Lafayette Square after the authorities used tear gas and rubber bullets to clear peaceful protesters.Īs senior leaders, everything you do will be closely watched, and I am not immune. Transcript ‘It Was a Mistake,’ Milley Says of Participating in Trump Photo Op Gen.

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