China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Trump fires Defense Secretary Esper
US President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Monday and reportedly is considering firing FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel.
Esper’s firing was the first top leadership change in what aides said they expect Trump to make during the final two months of his administration, according to The Washington Post, which didn’t name the aides. Trump and Esper, 56, had clashed over several issues.
In June, Esper publicly disagreed with the president, saying that active-duty military troops shouldn’t be sent to control the wave of protests in American cities.
He also disagreed with Trump on the withdrawal of US forces from key overseas bases and the display of Confederate emblems and names at military installations.
“Mark Esper has been terminated,” Trump tweeted. “I would like to thank him for his service.
” He named Christopher Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, as acting defense secretary.
Trump and some congressional Republicans have repeatedly and publicly complained that Wray and Haspel weren’t cooperative in pursuing By CHINA DAILY the president’s allegations that Democrat the Obama Joe Biden administration is forging illegally ahead with spied plans on the for Trump assuming campaign, power as or US in president Wray’s case, in January, allegations though about incumbent the business President dealings of Donald Hunter Trump Biden has when yet to his concede. father was Biden vice-president.
has signaled he plans to move On Monday, quickly to the build ranks his of government, Trump supporters making refusing tackling to the recognize coronavirus Biden pandemic as president-elect his top priority. and supporting As the Trump’s first step challenge in his transition of election plan, Biden named on Monday a results with legal options gained 13-member coronavirus task force its most prominent member: led by Senate former Majority surgeon Leader general Mitch Vivek McConnell.
Murthy and former Food and Drug Speaking Administration at a photo commissioner opportunity David with Kessler. new Republican senators “Biden elected is vowing last week, a major McConnell shift in didn’t the way respond the to questions White House about whether approaches he has coronavirus” seen any evidence after of “Trump fraud repeatedly as claimed downplayed by Trump, but its on gravity the and Senate resisted public health floor he said the president measures including wearing masks is entitled to challenge the and validity social distancing”, of the election BBC reported. results as he sees fit.
“Our On Saturday, institutions some are US actually media built projected for this,” Biden’s McConnell victory in said. the “We Nov have 3 election the system after gains in place in the to key consider battleground concerns, states and President of Pennsylvania Trump is and 100 Nevada percent propelled within him his rights over the to look 270 Electoral into allegations College of vote irregularities threshold and required weigh to his clinch legal options.” the White House. McConnell Four key said states there — Georgia, should be “no lectures” from Democrats who “just spent four years refusing to accept the validity of the last election”. Arizona, Following North McConnell Carolina and on Alaska the Senate — were still counting votes. floor, Democratic Minority US Leader media Chuck reported Schumer that Biden of New is York expected said to that quickly “Joe Biden reverse won some this election Trump policies. fair and square.
” He called Trump’s According claims to of an fraud adviser, “extremely Biden plans dangerous, to repeal extremely a ban on poisonous travelers to from our democracy”. several Muslim-majority nations, “Republican rejoin the Paris climate leaders must unequivocally accord, reverse condemn Trump’s withdrawal the president’s from rhetoric the World and Health work Organization to ensure the peaceful and buttress transfer a of program power,” Schumer protecting said. from deportation people Attorney brought General to the United William States Barr has illegally authorized as children, federal according prosecutors to Reuters.
across the US to pursue “substantial Biden said on Saturday that it allegations” of voting irregularities, was time for the US “to heal” and if they exist, before the vowed 2020 “not presidential to divide but election to unify” is certified. the country. Barr’s “We have action to raises stop the treating prospect our that opponents Trump as enemies,” he said. will use the Justice Department Biden also to announced try to challenge plans the to outcome. reboot the It virus-hit gives prosecutors US economy the by ability boosting to manufacturing, go around long-standing investing Justice in infrastructure, Department making policy childcare that normally more affordable would and reducing the prohibit such overt wealth actions gap between before ethnic the election groups, is according certified. to the Associated Press. Trump Biden and has his declined advisers to will concede also the move presidential forward with race and the has work continued of choosing to officials assert that to serve there in were his widespread administration. irregularities in several Asian states shares but so and far US has futures provided rose no evidence. He has claimed on Twitter that he won the election, as Biden on Saturday secured the necessary 270 electoral votes to win on the Monday White House. on relief that the US presidential Trump campaign election adviser was finally Jason decided, Miller said though Monday Trump’s that refusal conceding to concede “is not and even threats in our of legal vocabulary action remained right now”. a cause for uncertainty, AP David said. Bossie, an adviser to Trump’s In recent days, Trump has been campaign who was confronted tapped to oversee with a the torrent campaign’s of conflicting legal challenges advice over to the how election, he should has spend tested the positive remaining for the months coronavirus, of his presidency, Bloomberg according reported Monday. to Politico.
Some While most in his Senate inner Republicans circle have encouraged have refused him to acknowledge to battle the election that Biden results will become until the the bitter next president, end, while Senator others privately Susan Collins said he of should Maine, concede who won to protect reelection his legacy, last week, according on Monday to Politico. congratulated Biden Former on his Republican “apparent president victory”. George “He loves W. Bush congratulated Biden this country, and I wish on him his victory, every saying success,” the Collins American said people in a statement. could have “Presidential confidence that transitions the election are important, had been fundamentally and the president-elect fair and that and its outcome the vice was president-elect clear.
He also should congratulated be given Trump every opportunity on a hard-fought to ensure campaign. that they But are other ready senior to govern Republicans on January have 20.” so far refused to acknowledge the She result. The Republican leader was only the fourth in Republican the House of Representatives, senator to recognize Kevin McCarthy, told Fox News Biden’s election. Senators that all Mitt recounts Romney and of legal Utah, challenges Lisa Murkowski should be completed, adding: of Alaska and Ben “Then Sasse and only then, America will of Nebraska are the other decide Republicans who won the in race.” the chamber who have publicly congratulated Biden. All have been critical of Trump at various times, and in February. Romney became the only Republican who voted to convict Trump of abuse of power in his impeachment trial. On Sunday, former president George W. Bush, the only living former Republican president, congratulated Biden in a phone call and said that while Trump has the right to pursue legal challenges and recounts, the 2020 race was “fundamentally fair” and “its outcome is clear”. Bush also congratulated Trump “on a hard-fought campaign”, nodding to his “extraordinary political achievement” of winning the votes of more than 70 million Americans, the second-most in history behind Biden. “They have spoken, and their voices will continue to be heard through elected Republicans at every level of government,” Bush said.
Bush said he had called Biden and his running mate Senator Kamala Harris on Sunday. “Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country,” Bush said.