The top US military officer says he should not have joined Donald Trump when the US President walked from the White House to a nearby church for a photo opportunity after authorities cleared the way of protesters using tear gas and rubber bullets.
In a pre-recorded video, he said walking with the President to a Washington DC church was a mistake"I should not have been there," Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Mark Milley said of his appearance at the politically charged event on June 1.
"My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics," he said in a pre-recorded video commencement address to the National Defense University. General Milley's remarks followed a rare outpouring of condemnation from retired US generals and even former defence secretary Jim Mattis for Mr Trump taking part in the event.
The US military is meant to be apolitical and is sworn to defend the country's constitution, which protects the right to peaceful protest. General Milley and Defence Secretary Mark Esper joined Mr Trump to pay a surprise visit to the historic Saint John's Episcopal Church, during which the President held up a bible for photographers.Minutes before the visit, law enforcement used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse mostly peaceful protesters occupying the square between the White House and the church in a demonstration against the police killing of George Floyd.
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