The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, assured military personnel in a message made public on Thursday that the Pentagon is committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. Austin emphasized that the U.S. military would remain apolitical and was ready to carry out “all lawful orders.”
Trump, who was elected president on Tuesday, made a remarkable comeback, four years after losing to Joe Biden. His victory ushers in a new American leadership that is expected to test the resilience of domestic democratic institutions and reshape international relations.
Earlier last month, Trump was asked whether he anticipated “chaos” on election day, and he hinted that the military could be used to confront citizens opposing him.
In his message to U.S. troops sent Wednesday evening and released publicly on Thursday, Austin stressed that the U.S. military would continue to remain separate from political matters. He affirmed that the military’s role would remain focused on defending the nation with professionalism and principles, while standing alongside its allies and partners to strengthen security.
Speaking to reporters later that day in Miami, Austin expressed confidence that Pentagon leaders would continue to make the right decisions.
“These senior leaders will remain focused on our mission—defending this country, taking care of our troops, and succeeding through collaboration,” he said.
Both America’s allies and adversaries are keen to see if Trump’s second term will be as unpredictable as his first four years in office.
Critics argue that during his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump openly flouted norms by seeking political support from U.S. military personnel, who are sworn to loyalty to the U.S. Constitution rather than to any political party, movement, or leader.
During his presidential campaign, Trump referred to a “threat from within,” alluding to internal political opposition.
In his message to troops, Austin wrote: “As always, the U.S. military will be ready to follow the policies of its next Commander-in-Chief and obey all lawful orders from the civilian chain of command,” reports VOA.
“You are the U.S. military—the world’s most powerful fighting force—and will continue to defend our country, our Constitution, and the rights of all our citizens,” he added.
