This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Lara Seligman on politico.com
on September 8, 2020.

The US Army's top general defended military leaders on Tuesday after President Donald Trump accused them of going to war to keep defence contractors “happy,” saying he and others take the decision to send troops into combat “very, very seriously.”

Army Chief of Staff General James McConville declined to comment specifically on Trump's remarks to reporters on Monday, but defended the Pentagon brass against the accusation that they are beholden to arms manufacturers.

“I’ve talked with generals, I’ve talked with admirals, I’ve talked with [sergeants major] … many of these leaders have sons and daughters who have gone to combat or may be in combat right now.

“So I can assure the American people that senior leaders would only recommend sending troops to combat when it's required in national security, or as a last resort,” McConville said during an event held Tuesday by Defence One. “I feel very strong about it.”

McConville acknowledged today's “political environment”, but noted that the military needs to remain an “apolitical organisation,” particularly with an election around the corner.

The general's comments mark the Pentagon's first public response to Trump's remarks during a combative White House news conference on Monday, in which he said “top people in the Pentagon” probably aren’t “in love with me” because “they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy”.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows attempted to clarify Trump's remarks on Tuesday, noting that the president was not trying to target “any individual general” or Defence Secretary Mark Esper, who was Raytheon's top lobbyist before joining the Pentagon. Rather, the comments were directed at “the military industrial complex”, he said.

“This president is consistent about one thing: of we're going to send our sons and daughters abroad to fight on our behalf, he's not going to let some lobbyist here in Washington DC, just because they want a new defence contract, suggest that they need to stay abroad one minute longer than they should,” Meadows said.

“He’s been consistent about stopping these endless wars. He's going to continue to fight against the special interest groups here in Washington DC.”

Trump's remarks came days after The Atlantic reported based on anonymous sources that he disparaged American troops as “suckers” and “losers” for dying in battle. Other news organisations have confirmed elements of the report, and several top White House officials have come forward to condemn the reporting and defend the president.