The Facts
- In an interview with CBS News, General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who’s scheduled to retire Oct. 1, said he has taken "safety precautions" to protect himself and his family since former Pres. Donald Trump last week made a social media post that could’ve been construed as a threat toward Milley.
- Trump’s post on Truth Social last week called Milley telling his Chinese counterpart he would warn China of an imminent attack by the Trump administration a "treasonous act" with catastrophic geopolitical implications and also said that in "times gone by" it would have been worthy of execution.
- Trump also called Milley “a Woke train wreck.” Milley declined to comment directly, instead saying, "this military, this soldier, me, will never turn our back on [the] Constitution."
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The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
Milley is right to be concerned for his safety. Trump is unhinged and has lost control of his authoritarian tendencies. His threats of violence against Milley, Comcast — the owners of NBC and MSNBC — government officials, or participants in his prosecutions shouldn't be treated as individual incidents. They're evidence of his desire to make violence a normalized part of American life.
Pro-Trump narrative
Milley personifies all aspects of representing the establishment and shunning former President Trump. His treasonous, secret conversations with China merit investigation and prosecution — as do his failures during the Afghanistan withdrawal. The former president is simply pointing out these obvious and important facts.
Metaculus Prediction
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