Gen. Mark Milley’s Portrait Removed from Pentagon Amid Trump’s Renewed Criticism
Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon in Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A portrait of former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has been removed from the Pentagon just weeks after its installation, according to a report by Politico. The unexplained removal comes as Milley remains a target of newly inaugurated President Donald Trump’s ire.
“New Pentagon officials did not explain the portrait’s removal, which the Biden administration hung less than two weeks ago in the spot with other former Pentagon chairs,” reported Paul McLeary.
Milley, who retired as a four-star general, has faced repeated attacks from Trump, who appointed him to the Joint Chiefs during his previous term. Trump has publicly referred to Milley as a “loser,” blaming him for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and even suggested he could face execution for treason.
The animosity appears to stem from reporting that Milley, near the end of Trump’s first term, privately contacted Chinese military officials to assure them the U.S. would not launch a war as a pretext to disrupt the transfer of power to President Joe Biden. Milley reportedly acted to maintain stability during a volatile period, a move that enraged Trump and his allies.
On his final day in office, Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Milley, a surprising move intended to shield him from potential criminal investigations by Trump’s incoming administration. Biden also pardoned family members and members of Congress involved in the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack.
These actions provoked a backlash from GOP lawmakers, who vowed to investigate the pardoned individuals regardless. The disappearance of Milley’s portrait has sparked speculation on social media. CBS News reporter Jim LaPorta compared the situation to an incident in which the Navy obscured the USS John McCain to avoid angering Trump during a visit to Japan.
“Reminds me of when the Navy hid the USS John McCain so President Trump wouldn’t see it,” LaPorta wrote. The removal of the portrait underscores the fraught dynamics in Washington as Trump resumes power. Milley, long a polarizing figure in Trump’s rhetoric, continues to represent a flashpoint in the broader political battle over loyalty, accountability, and the rule of law.
