WASHINGTON – In his first eight months as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley carefully crafted a low-key public profile.
He knew that splashy and sassy were unlikely to endear him to his boss, President Donald Trump.Then “the walk” happened.Milley, in his camouflage battle dress uniform, strolled with Trump and a presidential entourage across Lafayette Square on June 1 to be positioned in front of a church, where Trump held up a Bible for photographers.
Critics immediately hit Milley, the nation's top military officer, for appearing to be a political pawn. On Thursday, he finally spoke out.“It was a mistake,” he said — simple words that thrust the square-jawed general into the public spotlight like never before.