The president differed with Defense Secretary Mark Esper on considering the bases named after Confederate generals.
President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday that his administration would not consider renaming Army installations named after Confederate generals, just two days after Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said they were open to doing so.
“It has been suggested that we should rename as many as 10 of our Legendary Military Bases,” Trump wrote in a series of tweets. “These Monumental and very Powerful Bases have become part of a Great American Heritage, and a history of Winning, Victory, and Freedom. The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars.”
“Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations,” Trump continued. “Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!”
A Pentagon spokesperson referred questions to the White House. An Army spokesperson referred to the National Security Council.
Trump’s break with Pentagon leaders on the issue comes just a week after Esper said he opposed deploying active-duty troops to respond to civil unrest, two days after Trump threatened to do just that.
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Esper and McCarthy, prompted by protests over racial injustice and police violence that have swept the nation in recent weeks, on Monday said they were “open” to having a “bipartisan discussion” about renaming the 10 Army installations named after Confederate generals.
The move reflected a change from as recently as February, when the Army said it had no plans to rename the facilities. The decision followed the Marine Corps’ announcement that it would ban images of Confederate flags from its installations.
After the Army released its statement on Monday, the Navy said it would follow the Marine Corps’ lead in banning public display of Confederate flags.
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The Army bases in question, all in Southern states, are Fort Bragg, N.C.; Forts Benning and Gordon in Georgia; Forts Pickett, A.P. Hill and Lee in Virginia; Fort Polk and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Rucker, Ala.
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President Trump tweeted today that his administration would not consider renaming Army installations named after Confederate generals just two days after Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said they were open to doing so https://t.co/VkwLXn9A4n
— POLITICO (@politico) June 10, 2020
Today @realDonaldTrump became the Confederacy’s second president.
Our full statement: pic.twitter.com/p7PaeZdKWc
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) June 10, 2020
I’m a 7th gen Mississippian. I’ve helped elect Gov’s and Senators in Ms., Al., Ga, Tx, Ok. , NC. , Fl. Trump will lose more white voters with his Confederate defense than gain. Majority very much want to move past Civil War & hatred, not relive it. NASCAR gets it. Trump doesn’t.
— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) June 10, 2020
Lincoln Project Slams Trump After He Rejects Renaming Military Bases, Calls Him ‘The Confederacy’s Second President’ https://t.co/DN190krNAs via @mediaite
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 11, 2020
The Pentagon was shocked by Trump's tweet yesterday on bases named for Confederate generals.
"It feels like we took two steps forward and six steps back. Just to have a conversation, that’s all we wanted," a military official said.https://t.co/VkwLXn9A4n
— POLITICO (@politico) June 11, 2020
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