One of the Pentagon’s most seasoned public affairs officials was fired last week on the orders of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to senior Defense Department officials.
The official, Army Col. Dave Butler, was the top strategic communications adviser to the Army chief of staff, Gen. Randy George. He was also the spokesman for Gen. Mark Milley when he was serving as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
It is unusual for a defense secretary to weigh in on the firing of an Army spokesman.
Mr. Hegseth has made no secret of his hatred for General Milley, who President Trump has suggested should be executed for treason because he reassured Chinese counterparts in the turbulent aftermath of the 2020 elections that the United States military was not launching a war.
Two defense officials said that Mr. Hegseth had blamed Colonel Butler for news articles late last year that compared him unfavorably to Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll.
Helene Cooper is a Pentagon correspondent for The Times. She was previously an editor, diplomatic correspondent and White House correspondent.
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