Trump: Pentagon leaders want war to keep contractors ‘happy’

President Donald Trump said Monday that top Defense Department leaders want to keep waging wars in order to keep defense contractors “happy.” Trump continues to fight allegations that he made offensive comments about fallen U.S. service-members, including calling World War I dead at an American military cemetery in France “losers” and “suckers” in 2018. Atlantic first reported on anymously sourced allegations.

At a White House news conference Monday, Trump repeated his claim that story was a “hoax” and said: “I’m t saying military’s in love with me. soldiers are.”

However, he added, “ top people in Pentagon probably aren’t because y want to do thing but fight wars so all of those wonderful companies that make bombs and make planes and make everything else stay happy.”

Trump’s relationship with military brass has been strained since he threatened this summer to use Insurrection Act to provide troops for law enforcement during protests after George Floyd’s death. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, has also expressed regret for walking with Trump through Lafayette Square in what turned out to be a photo op during protests. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, whom Trump appointed, was defense contractor Rayon Co.’s chief Washington lobbyist before he became Army secretary in 2017. 

(Im Credits: AP)