America’s most senior military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, told members of Congress that the military will not play a role in deciding November’s presidential election should the results be disputed.
“The Constitution and laws of the US and the states establish procedures for carrying out elections, and for resolving disputes over the outcome of elections…I do not see the US military as part of this process,” Milley said in a letter released on Friday responding to questions from two Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee.
“I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military,” Milley added.
Milley’s statements are in response to questions from Reps. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan about how the military would react if President Trump lost the election but refused to leave office in November.
“These are just prudent questions to be asking given the things that the president has been saying publicly,” said Slotkin.
Photo by U.S. Army