Trump fires defence secretary — two days after losing election

President Donald Trump has fired Mark Esper as defence secretary, appointing Christopher Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, as replacement.

Trump made the announcement on a Twitter post on Monday.

“I am pleased to announce that Christopher C. Miller, the highly respected Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (unanimously confirmed by the Senate), will be Acting Secretary of Defense, effective immediately,” he said.

“Chris will do a GREAT job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service.”

…Chris will do a GREAT job! Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2020

This development comes days after Joe Biden was declared winner of the November 3 presidential election.

CNN had earlier reported that Esper is “acutely aware that the president could fire him by tweet at any time”.

Trump reportedly fell-out with Esper in June over his refusal to send troops to clamp down on protesters who took to the streets to demonstrate against police brutality and racism.

Esper, a former US army officer and defense contractor lobbyist, succeeded Jim Mattis last year.

He previously served as the 23rd United States secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019.