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[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] On the 9th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly dismissed Defense Secretary Mark Esper. The presidential transition for President-elect Joe Biden is expected to become difficult. Former Secretary Esper emphasized the justification of his defiance, saying he has no regrets about deciding to fight against President Trump.

President Trump announced the sudden dismissal of former Secretary Esper via Twitter on the same day. Trump briefly stated, "Mark Esper is terminated. I want to thank him for his service." He added, "I am pleased to announce that the highly respected Christopher C. Miller, Director of the Counterterrorism Center, will serve as Acting Secretary of Defense," and said, "This is effective immediately."

President Trump had previously dismissed former Secretary James Mattis, Esper’s predecessor, through Twitter as well.

Former Secretary Esper reportedly angered President Trump by publicly defying the deployment of troops to suppress racial protests in June and effectively banning the use of the Confederate flag within the military. U.S. media recently reported that Esper’s dismissal was imminent and that he was aware of this fact.

Esper, who was dismissed, seemed to have anticipated his removal and recently stated in an interview, "I decided to fight President Trump as Secretary of Defense," emphasizing, "I have no regrets about my actions."

The Hill, a congressional media outlet, reported that Esper made these remarks in a Military Times interview published that day. In the interview conducted shortly after the U.S. presidential election, Esper said, "In the end, as I said, I had to choose to fight," adding, "I can fight about anything, and I can fight a big fight. I can accept that." He then asked himself, "Why?" and answered, "Someone will come to replace me, right? It will be a real 'yes-man.' Then God will help us."

He also said, "My frustration is when people say, 'Name another minister who rebelled,'" which is interpreted to mean that no other Trump administration cabinet members defied the president.

Esper further stated that despite tensions with President Trump and the White House, he never intended to resign voluntarily and felt he should continue serving as secretary. However, he explained that he had anticipated being fired at some point. In a letter to President Trump that day, Esper mentioned, "I accept the decision to replace me."

After President Trump dismissed the Secretary of Defense, a key cabinet member, even as he was in a lame-duck period following his election defeat, the Democratic Party immediately reacted. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized, "The sudden dismissal of former Secretary Esper is evidence that President Trump intends to sow chaos in American democracy and around the world until his last day in office."

Speaker Pelosi added, "Continuity and stability are important during a power transition," emphasizing that President Trump should not obstruct the transfer of power to the next administration through further personnel actions. The New York Times (NYT) predicted that such dismissals would continue. It reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray and CIA Director Gina Haspel could be next in line.

There is also an interpretation that President Trump’s refusal to acknowledge the lame-duck period and election defeat is part of laying the groundwork for a presidential run four years later. On the same day, U.S. media Axios cited two sources reporting that President Trump told his close aides he is considering running in the presidential election four years from now. Axios noted that Trump, who still maintains strong support within the Republican Party, would be a fatal obstacle to other potential presidential candidates if he runs in the next election.