It looks like another one of Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary’s could be on the way out. The Wall Street Journal exclusively reports that last week Trump “was on the brink of firing” Mark Esper, his fourth defense secretary. This came after Esper noted that “he was given no notice before President Donald Trump led him and other senior administration officials to St. John’s Episcopal Church for a widely criticized photo opportunity.” But the publication says several unnamed officials pointed out that it was “their differing views of domestic use of active-duty military” that really set the president off.
The officials said Mr. Trump was furious with Mr. Esper for not supporting his inclination to use active-duty troops to quell protests in Washington, D.C., Minneapolis and elsewhere following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25.
The WSJ says Trump was eventually talked out of firing Esper, but it appears Esper may not be happy in his role:
At the same time, however, Mr. Esper, aware of Mr. Trump’s feelings, was making his own preparations to resign, partly in frustration over the differences regarding the role of the military, the officials said. He had begun to prepare a letter of resignation before he was persuaded not to do so by aides and other advisers, according to some of the officials.