By Mallory Wilson The Washington Times Tuesday, January 21, 2025
President Trump kept his Day 1 actions going after midnight Monday by firing four presidential appointees from the Biden administration.
“Our first day in the White House is not over yet! My Presidential Personnel Office is actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again,” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social early Tuesday.
He listed Jose Andres to be fired from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition; retired Army Gen. Mark A. Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council; Brian Hook, who served as envoy to Iran during the first Trump administration, from the Wilson Center for Scholars; and Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council.
“YOU’RE FIRED!” the president posted.
He also noted that “many more” firings are coming soon.
Mr. Milley was given a preemptive pardon by Joe Biden as he was leaving the presidency. The general was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023 and became critical of Mr. Trump, calling him “fascist to the core” in a book.
Mr. Trump in a September 2023 post ripped Mr. Milley while the general was leaving his position and suggested he may deserve to be executed.
“If the Fake News reporting is correct, [Milley] was actually dealing with China to give them a heads up on the thinking of the President of the United States,” Mr. Trump wrote at the time. “This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been death!”
Mr. Milley’s portrait was taken down from the Pentagon on Monday just hours after Mr. Trump was sworn in.
Mr. Andres responded to the president’s post, saying he submitted his resignation last week.
In an X post, he said he was “honored” to serve in the position.
“My fellow council members — unpaid volunteers like me — were hardworking, talented people who inspired me every day. I’m proud of what we accomplished on behalf of the American people … like a historic partnership between the White House and every major sports league to increase access to sports and health programs for kids,” Mr. Andres wrote.
“I hope @realdonaldtrump exercises his presidential authority so the Council can continue to advocate for fitness and good health for all Americans. These are bipartisan issues … nonpartisan issues,” he said.
