President Donald Trump sharply criticized retired General Mark Milley during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C., referring to the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as “an idiot” for his role in managing military equipment during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. Trump shared his frustrations over disagreements with Milley, specifically about the removal of American hardware from Afghanistan before the U.S. exit.
In the meeting, Trump detailed a conflict with Milley concerning the appropriate steps for withdrawing from Afghanistan after nearly twenty years of military engagement. Trump stated he had directed military officials to remove all equipment, instructing them to take out “every screw, bolt, and nail.” Milley, however, reportedly contended that leaving the equipment behind would be more cost-effective than transporting it out of the country.
Trump described Milley’s response to his orders, noting that the general suggested abandoning the military hardware would be cheaper than arranging for its removal. Trump remarked, “That’s when I knew he was an idiot.” He added that his realization about Milley’s judgment was immediate during their conversations. Trump made these comments amid ongoing scrutiny of the withdrawal process.
The critique extended beyond the equipment issue, as Trump described the Afghanistan withdrawal as a significant embarrassment for the United States. He labeled it potentially the most humiliating event in American history, emphasizing that while the U.S. needed to leave Afghanistan, the manner of the exit was disgraceful and resulted in casualties. Trump clarified that his concern was not with the decision to leave but with how the exit was carried out.
The Taliban acquired approximately $7 billion worth of American military equipment during the disorganized withdrawal, according to a 2022 Department of Defense report. Military experts have predicted that much of the seized materiel would not remain functional for extended periods without American maintenance and support.
Trump initially appointed Milley to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2019, and the general served until 2023. Their relationship significantly deteriorated, particularly after Milley made controversial phone calls to his Chinese counterpart during the final weeks of Trump’s first presidency. These communications, which occurred in October 2020 and January 2021, were intended to reassure China that the U.S. would not launch attacks against them.
Milley had previously described Trump as fascist to the core, according to Bob Woodward’s book “War,” published in 2024. During his retirement ceremony in 2023, Milley emphasized that military personnel take oaths to the Constitution and the idea of America, not to “wannabe dictators.”
Since returning to office, Trump’s administration has taken systematic action against Milley. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revoked Milley’s security detail and clearance in January 2025 and ordered an investigation into the general’s conduct to determine if stripping him of rank would be appropriate. The Pentagon removed Milley’s official portraits, including his chairman portrait, shortly after Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
Trump’s recent comments coincided with Hegseth’s announcement of new investigations into the Afghanistan withdrawal. Hegseth stated that the Department of Defense is obligated to uncover the facts surrounding the withdrawal operation, citing the number of casualties and equipment losses as reasons for the probe.
Former President Joe Biden issued Milley a preemptive pardon in his final days in office, anticipating possible retaliation from the incoming Trump administration. Biden’s action covered potential prosecutions related to Milley’s service, though it remains unclear whether the pardon would protect his military rank from administrative review.
The Trump administration has applied similar measures to other former officials, revoking security protections for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, former Iran envoy Brian Hook, and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Intelligence assessments suggest that Iran continues to pose threats against these individuals, notably following the 2020 killing of Iranian General Qassim Soleimani during Trump’s first term.
Comparisons have been drawn between Milley’s situation and Soviet-style purges, with critics highlighting the unprecedented removal of a retired general’s portraits from the Pentagon. The defense establishment has remained notably silent regarding the treatment of the four-star general, with military organizations that typically advocate for officers declining to comment on the situation.
