Trump Confronted Defense Chief Esper Over Comments on Protests
- Trump asks advisers if Pentagon boss can still be effective
- White House vexed after Esper distances himself from boss
Mark Esper
Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
President Donald Trump confronted his Defense secretary, Mark Esper, after the Pentagon chief publicly opposed the idea of deploying the military to contain protests, according to people familiar with the matter.
Separately, the president later asked top advisers if they thought Esper could still be effective in his position, two people familiar with the discussions said on Wednesday night.