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Former officials fired by Donald Trump during his first term

AA / Istanbul / Muhammed Enes Calli

During Donald Trump’s first term as President of the United States, many senior officials came and went in his administration, with disagreements leading to their dismissals over time.

His atypical management led to numerous layoffs being announced on social media, sparking intense media interest and controversy.

As he prepares to return to the Oval Office, Donald Trump reconvenes his team, which revives the memory of these frequent dismissals and the former officials he dismissed following a disagreement.

** James Comey – Director of the FBI

Appointed director of the FBI in 2013 by President Barack Obama, James Comey was fired by Trump in 2017.

Statements from Trump and the White House indicated that Comey was fired to ease the pressure Trump was facing due to Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, conducted from May 2017 to March 2019, focused on allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, examining potential ties to Trump.

** Jeff Sessions – Attorney General

Jeff Sessions was appointed attorney general in 2017. Trump has frequently criticized Sessions, particularly for recusing himself from an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Ongoing disagreements between the two men led Sessions to resign under pressure in 2018.

Trump has publicly attacked Sessions multiple times via X, formerly Twitter, and in public statements.

**Rex Tillerson – Secretary of State

Often at odds with Trump on foreign policy, particularly regarding North Korea and Iran, Rex Tillerson, appointed Secretary of State in 2017, was dismissed from office in 2018.

Donald Trump announced on Twitter that he had fired Rex Tillerson and named former CIA Director Mike Pompeo to succeed him.

**Michael Flynn – National Security Advisor

Michael Flynn was appointed national security adviser in 2017.

Flynn resigned after revelations that he misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

“I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He pleaded guilty to these lies. This is unfortunate because his actions during the transition were legal. There was nothing to hide! » Trump tweeted.

Michael Flynn was later investigated for his ties to Russia and was ultimately pardoned by Trump.

** HR McMaster – National Security Advisor

HR McMaster was appointed National Security Advisor in 2017.

McMaster disagreed with Trump’s approach to foreign policy, particularly regarding Russia and other international issues. He left the Trump administration in 2018.

Trump publicly criticized McMaster on Twitter after McMaster said at a forum in Germany that it was “indisputable” that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.

“General McMaster forgot to mention that the results of the 2016 election were not affected by Russian interference and that the only collusion was between Russia and Crooked H (2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate and former first lady Hillary Clinton – Editor’s note), the DNC (Democratic National Committee – Editor’s note) and the Dems (Democrats – Editor’s note),” Trump said on Twitter.

**John Bolton – National Security Advisor

John Bolton replaced McMaster as National Security Advisor in 2018.

But he also clashed with Trump on several foreign policy issues, notably regarding Iran and North Korea.

In 2019, Trump fired Bolton, saying on Twitter that he “strongly disagreed with many of his suggestions.” »

**Elaine Chao – Secretary of Transportation

Elaine Chao was appointed Secretary of Transportation in 2017.

After criticizing aspects of Trump’s policies, she resigned in 2021 following the January 6 riots at the Capitol.

She became the administration’s highest-ranking official and the first cabinet member to resign following the incident.

**David Shulkin – Secretary of Veterans Affairs

David Shulkin was appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs in 2017.

He was removed from office in 2018 due to political differences with the administration and ethical concerns related to his use of public funds.

In 2018, Trump announced on Twitter that Shulkin had been removed from office and would be temporarily replaced by Robert Wilkie.

Shulkin has been criticized for his travel expenses and allegations of poor care at Department of Veterans Affairs health centers.

*Translated from English by Mourad Belhaj

Only part of the dispatches, which the Anadolu Agency broadcasts to its subscribers via the Internal Broadcasting System (HAS), is broadcast on the AA website, in summary form. Please contact us to subscribe.

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