Trump’s pick for army secy pulls out

Tragically, my life of public service and my Christian beliefs have been mischaracterised and attacked by a few on the other side of the aisle for political gain

US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Army secretary, Mark Green, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the position, a White House official said on Friday.

Green, who is the third Trump nominee for a service secretary position to withdraw, has faced criticism from rights groups and lawmakers over allegations about past comments regarding minorities as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, people.

In a statement, Green said “false and misleading attacks” had driven him to withdraw.

US senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that Green’s decision to stand down was “good news for all Americans.”

It was especially good for those “who were personally vilified by his disparaging comments directed toward the LGBTQ community, Muslim community, Latino community and more,” Schumer said.

Green served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment where he made three combat tours to the Middle East. Trump has signed his first piece of major legislation on Friday, a $1 trillion spending bill to keep the government operating through September.

The bill cleared both houses of Congress this week and Trump signed it into law behind closed doors at his home in New Jersey, ahead of a deadline for some operations to begin shutting down.

But other battles lie ahead as the White House and Congress hammer out a plan for the fiscal year that starts October 1.