The Pentagon Isn't Explaining Why It Removed Mark Milley's Portrait As Trump Took Office

US President Donald Trump and Mark Milley, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time the picture was taken.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

• Mark Milley's Pentagon portrait was removed shortly after Trump took office.
• Milley was hired by Trump as a top military advisor only to later fall out of favor.
• The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs served under Biden, retired in 2023, and received a preemptive pardon.

The Pentagon portrait of former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley was suddenly removed Monday shortly after President Donald Trump took office.

The portrait had been displayed in the Pentagon for less than two weeks before being taken down. The painting previously hung in a corridor filled with portraits of past chairmen.

When asked why Milley's portrait was taken down, Pentagon officials declined to comment on the matter. Voice of America's Carla Babb talked to the painters who patched up the holes where the portrait had been hanging. She reported they said they were doing as told and had not been given a reason.

Trump hired Milley for his position as chairman, though Milley later fell out of favor.

There had been clashes behind the scenes, such as a shouting match with Trump over nationwide racial justice protests in 2020. But the rift became more noticeable after Milley apologized for appearing in a photo op with Trump after the forceful clearing of protesters in DC. That rift has only gotten wider with time, especially as Milley's concerns about Trump have come out in reports and books.

Trump has expressed irritation with Milley's characterizations of his administration and the president himself in discussions with reporters, criticized Milley for US failures in Afghanistan, calling him a "loser," and has called for the former top general to be "tried for treason" in response to his efforts to ensure nuclear and geopolitical stability after the events of January 6, 2021.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff do not have command of troops, unlike military combatant commanders. The job is an advisory role for the highest levels of US leadership, including the president.

Milley continued to serve as Chairman under President Joe Biden and retired in October 2023. In discussions with investigative journalist Bob Woodward, Milley has called Trump a "fascist" and expressed concern he could be court-martialed.

In the final hours of the Biden Administration, Milley was granted a preemptive pardon by Biden, who said in a statement that the pardon, and Milley's acceptance, doesn't indicate any wrongdoing or guilt by Milley.

Biden's statement said that "our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country."