By Dareh Gregorian - NBC News
The office of the joint chief of staff, General Mark Milley, defended him on Wednesday after former President Donald Trump called him a "traitor" for contacting China on two occasions to alleviate possible international fears that the president would declare a war.
President Joe Biden also said he has
"great confidence"
in Milley when asked about this information.
Milley called General Li Zuocheng on October 30 (four days before the presidential election that Trump lost) and January 8 (two days after the assault on the Capitol by supporters of the former president), according to the book
Peril
(
Danger
) by journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.
The first call came when Milley reviewed intelligence information suggesting that Washington was preparing an attack.
This fear was compounded by Trump's belligerent rhetoric against China.
"General Li, I want to assure you that the US government is stable and that everything is going to be fine. We are not going to attack or carry out any operations against you," he said, according to the book.
He even promised Li that he would warn him in case the United States attacked, based on their relationship.
"General Li, you and I have known each other for five years. If we are going to attack, I will call you in advance. It will not be a surprise," he guaranteed.
On the second call it was not so easy to convince Li.
"We are 100% firm. Everything is going well. But democracy can be messy at times," he told her.
"For the record, I never thought to attack China and China knows it,"
said Trump, calling Milley "weak and ineffective."
Will the governor of California change after staying in power?
An analyst explains it
Sept.
15, 202103: 01
The authors also indicate that Milley took steps to ensure proper protocols for the country's nuclear arsenal were followed in the days after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to stop the count of electoral votes.
In a statement Wednesday, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Col. Dave Butler suggested there was nothing inappropriate about Milley's actions.
[Six policemen will be punished with disciplinary measures for their conduct during the assault on the Capitol]
"The general continues to act and advise within his authority in the legal tradition of civilian control of the military and its oath to the Constitution," Butler said.
The military spokesman said the president "communicates regularly" with his counterparts around the world, "including with China and Russia. These talks remain vital to enhancing mutual understanding of the United States' national security interests, reducing tensions. , provide clarity and avoid unintended consequences or conflicts. "
Gen. Mark Milley feared for Trump's mental health after Capitol assault, book says
Sept.
15, 202100: 44
"His calls with the Chinese and others in October and January were in keeping with these duties and responsibilities to convey peace of mind and maintain strategic stability," Butler said.
He added that the "meeting regarding the nuclear weapons protocols was to remind uniformed leaders at the Pentagon of the robust procedures in place long ago in light of media reporting on the issue."
After Peril's account came to light Tuesday, Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio asked Biden to fire Milley, adding that his actions "demonstrate a clear lack of good judgment."
Other Republican lawmakers had previously called for Milley's resignation over America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told a news conference Wednesday that she would not discuss the "anonymous unconfirmed reports" of the book, but suggested that Milley is not going anywhere.
"What I can assure you all is that the president knows General Milley, has been chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for nearly eight months of his presidency, they have worked side by side through a series of international events, and the president has full confidence in his leadership, his patriotism and his fidelity to our Constitution. "