A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times
by Mark T. Esper
View on GoodreadsDuring the 2020 George Floyd protests, Trump asked whether troops could just shoot protesters in the legs, according to Mark Esper. His Pentagon memoir, ending with his firing by tweet on November 9, 2020, records his fights to keep the military apolitical and to put his oath ahead of loyalty to Trump.
Core ideas
- Troops stay out: He opposed sending active-duty troops into Washington, and after the Lafayette Square walk he said he hadn't known about the photo op.
- Missiles into Mexico: By his account, Trump twice asked about quietly firing Patriot missiles at Mexican drug labs while denying US responsibility.
- Watching the election: As the 2020 vote neared, he told Defense officials to watch for unusual White House orders, and he judges Trump unfit for office.
Published2022
Pages752
ISBN9780063144316
ReadDec 2024
