Published 09:13 IST, November 11th 2020

Top Pentagon official resigns day after Trump terminates Defence Secretary Mark Esper

After President Doanld Trump on Monday fired his Defence Secretary Mark Esper, another top Pentagon official announced his resignation on Tuesday

Reported by: Gargi Rohatgi
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After United States President Donald Trump on Monday fired his Defence Secretary Mark Esper, ar top Pentagon official anunced his resignation on Tuesday. Anuncing resignation, Under Secretary of Defence for Intelligence Retired Navy Vice miral Joseph Kernan thanked all his colleagues for ir tireless commitment to nation. Some officials from ministration claim that Kernan h planned to leave after US elections but his departure was accelerated. 

Joseph Kernan said, "I tendered my resignation as USD (I&S) which will take effect today. I want to thank all of you for your tireless commitment to our nation and supporting me personally over last three years. It has been my hour to serve with all of you. My family and I have long planned this departure and I leave kwing that our efforts will continue given your unrelenting dedication to security of this nation."

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Ar top Pentagon official resigns

This decision of Joseph Kernan to resign from ministration came after President Donald Trump on vember 9 terminated defence Secretary Mark Esper on Twitter. Taking to Twitter, Trump also anunced that Director of National Counterterrorism Christopher C Miller will become Acting Secretary of Defence. Esper was appointed Secretary of Defence in 2019. 

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Trump terminates Mark Esper on Twitter 

Donald Trump fired his Defence Secretary Mark Esper days after major media outlets declared that he has lost vember 3 elections to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. According to CNN, Mark Esper said that he has accepted Trump's decision to replace him. 

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According to CNN, Esper h been on shaky ground with White House for months, a rift that deepened after he said in June that he did t support using active-duty troops to quell large-scale protests across United States triggered by death of George Floyd by police. He also said military forces should be used in a law enforcement role only as a last resort.

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Travel to India to attend 2+2 ministerial meeting was Esper's last foreign travel as Defence Secretary. Esper was appointed as Secretary of Defence in 2019, replacing James Mattis.

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(With ANI inputs)

09:13 IST, November 11th 2020