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POLITICO.COM | Trump loyalty purge roils Pentagon

  • esther17376
  • Jul 21
  • 1 min read
President Donald Trump listens as then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks at a White House press briefing. The image captures a tense moment during Trump’s presidency, a period in which John McEntee held significant influence over personnel decisions within the administration.

JUN 18, 2020 — Trump’s post-impeachment loyalty purge hit the Pentagon hard. Kathryn Wheelbarger and Elaine McCusker are out, Esper’s influence is shrinking, and John McEntee’s PPO is in full control. With even top talent getting sidelined for ties to Mattis or McCain, the message is loud and clear: loyalty to Trump isn’t optional — it’s the only credential that matters.


 
 

© 2025 John McEntee.

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