Psaki Says Biden Standing by Milley Despite Report He Circumvented Trump

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday President Joe Biden intended to keep Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley in his position despite reports that Milley went “rogue” under Biden’s predecessor.

“How much agency does the president believe those in the chain of command should have when it comes to assessing whether an order is constitutional?” a reporter asked Psaki at Wednesday’s daily White House briefing. “What if someone serving this president feels there’s an order or policy that he views as contravening the Constitution?”

Psaki replied with a subtle shot at former President Donald Trump, saying it was “the obligation of every chairman of the joint chiefs to prevent unlawful military action” and adding, “This president has no intention of fomenting unrest or an insurrection, he has no intention, obviously, of moving forward or recommending unlawful military action.”

Reports emerged this week that Milley assured officials — including his counterpart in China and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) — during Trump’s term in the White House that he would not allow the president to use nuclear weapons or take unlawful military action. The situation developed on Wednesday with sources saying Defense Secretary Mark Esper played a role in Milley’s machinations.

Psaki added: “He has no intention of working in a way that is outside what his national security team are aligned with him — I mean, obviously, they’re going to give him a range of recommendations, but he has no intention of working outside of what is legally allowable.”

Watch above via the White House.

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