Donald Trump fires Defence Secretary Mark Esper

Gulf Today Report

President Donald Trump on Monday said Defence Secretary Mark Esper had been "terminated" and that Christopher Miller, Director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, will be acting Secretary of Defence starting immediately.

"Mark Esper has been terminated," Trump said on Twitter. "I am pleased to announce that Christopher C. Miller, the highly respected Director of the National Counterterrorism Centre (unanimously confirmed by the Senate), will be Acting Secretary of Defence, effective immediately."

The firing of Esper, who had clashed with Trump over his suggestion of using military personnel to quash civic unrest, comes a week after the US presidential election.

Trump, who is pursuing so far flimsy claims of election fraud in the courts, has only until Jan.20 before he has to leave office and Biden takes over.