Off the rails: Trump's failed 11th-hour military withdrawal campaign [View all]

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💥 NEW — Off the rails: Inside Trump’s final-weeks campaign to withdraw the U.S. military from engagements around the world
Illustration of President Donald Trump on a scrap of paper featuring his signature and multiple military helicopters
Off the rails: Trump’s failed 11th-hour military withdrawal campaign
A behind-the-scenes look at former President Trump’s unprecedented clash with the Pentagon.
axios.com
3:27 PM · May 16, 2021

https://www.axios.com/off-the-rails-trump-military-withdraw-afghanistan-5717012a-d55d-4819-a79f-805d5eb3c6e2.html


John McEntee, one of Donald Trump's most-favored aides, handed retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor a piece of paper with a few notes scribbled on it. He explained: "This is what the president wants you to do."

1. Get us out of Afghanistan.

2. Get us out of Iraq and Syria.

3. Complete the withdrawal from Germany.

4. Get us out of Africa.

It was Nov. 9, 2020 — days after Trump lost his re-election bid, 10 weeks before the end of his presidency and just moments after Macgregor was offered a post as senior adviser to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller.

As head of the powerful Presidential Personnel Office, McEntee had Trump's ear. Even so, Macgregor was astonished. He told McEntee he doubted they could do all of these things before Jan. 20.

"Then do as much as you can," McEntee replied.

*snip*