Austin urges calm as Trump vows to remake ‘woke’ military into bad-ass fighting machine

“You will be a weapon. You will be a minister of death praying for war. But until that day, you are pukes. You are the lowest form of life on Earth,” barks R. Lee Ermey in the role of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Hartman, in a profane rebuke of new recruits after he punches one in the stomach.

That Hollywood portrayal of Marine boot camp was juxtaposed with a clip of Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender four-star officer to serve in uniform as an admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service. “Happy pride. Happy Pride Month,” Levine says. “And actually, let’s declare it a summer of pride.” 

One of the first things Trump promised to do as commander in chief was to fire the generals and admirals he saw as too woke. “Don’t worry about the military. They’re not woke,” Trump said at a Michigan rally in the campaign’s closing days. “Only those people on the top are a little ‘woke.’ They’ll be gone fast.”

IN HIS SECOND TERM, TRUMP WILL BE FREE TO MAKE OVER THE MILITARY AND RESHAPE FOREIGN POLICY TO HIS LIKING

‘A CALM, ORDERLY, AND PROFESSIONAL TRANSITION’: During most transitions, the Pentagon is an island of stability as the new administration finds its sea legs. For each senior civilian leader who departs, there is a military counterpart capable of keeping things on an even keel until new leadership is in place. 

But with Trump promising to transform the Department of Defense by gutting diversity programs, targeting transgender troops, and promoting a massive missile shield that will cover the entire United States, the Pentagon workers — both civilian and military who will remain after the political appointees have left — are wondering what’s in store. 

“The Department will make a calm, orderly, and professional transition to the incoming Trump administration,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo to all hands. “As it always has, the U.S. military will stand ready to carry out the policy choices of its next commander in chief and to obey all lawful orders from its civilian chain of command.”

“The U.S. military will also continue to stand apart from the political arena; to stand guard over our republic with principle and professionalism; and to stand together with the valued allies and partners who deepen our security,” Austin wrote. “America’s Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States — and that is precisely what you will continue to do.”

AUSTIN TELLS TROOPS DOD WILL MAKE ‘ORDERLY’ TRANSITION TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

AUSTIN: ‘FIRING OF LEADERS … IT IS [HIS] PREROGATIVE’: Speaking to a small group of reporters in Florida, where he presided over the change of command ceremony for the U.S. Southern Command, Austin expressed confidence that the long-standing norms and the bedrock principle of an apolitical military will hold, even as Trump has hinted he might use the military to carry out his mass deportation of illegal migrants, or target “the enemy from within.”

“I would tell you that the law is really well defined as to what can be done and not be done using active duty military,” Austin said. “Our leaders are well versed in those laws. We have the world’s greatest legal corps to assist us in making sure that we stay on track.”

As for Trump’s threat to fire “woke” generals, Austin said he wouldn’t speculate on what the president-elect could or will do. “In terms of selection of leaders — firing of leaders — it is the prerogative of the commander in chief to select his leaders and everyone knows that,” he said.

“A number of things have been said. We’ll see what happens,” he added. “But what I would tell you is that these senior leaders will stay focused on the task at hand: defending this country, taking care of our troops, and succeeding through teamwork. I mean, this is what they’re made of; this is what they do. I have 100% confidence in them going forward.” At yesterday’s ceremony retiring Army Gen. Laura Richardson, the first woman to lead the U.S. Southern Command was succeeded by Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, the first black American to hold the post.

HOW TRUMP COULD IMPACT THE PENTAGON

Good Friday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre. 

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HAPPENING TODAY: Now that Trump has picked his chief of staff, tapping Susie Wiles for the key White House job, speculation is running high about who Trump will choose as his second-term team. Wiles, widely credited with running a well-oiled campaign that maximized Trump’s strengths, is the first woman to hold the influential role.

The two most crucial positions that must be filled the same day Trump takes office are the secretaries of state and defense. Whoever is nominated is likely to sail through the confirmation process, as Republicans will have the majority in the Senate with at least 53 seats.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), who Trump passed over in favor of Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), to be his vice presidential running mate, is seen by many as a front-runner to be Secretary of State. And among the names floated for defense secretary are former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who was first in his class at West Point and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK), a former Army officer who served in Afghanistan.

But Axios reports Cotton has indicated to the Trump team he would prefer to remain in the Senate.  

TRUMP TAPS CAMPAIGN MANAGER SUSIE WILES TO BE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF

ZELENSKY: WE NEED WEAPONS, NOT HUGS: During a conference in Hungary yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Trump’s plans to broker a ceasefire in the war with Russia without explicitly naming the president-elect.

“Talk of a ceasefire is dangerous when there are no security guarantees for Ukraine – clear, real, ones that we can trust, not merely rhetorical assurances,” Zelensky said at the European Political Community Summit in Budapest. “Such a ceasefire prepares the ground for continued occupation of Ukraine and the destruction of our independence and sovereignty.”

“A simple ceasefire is a model we are hearing about from some leaders here, from Brazil, from China, and importantly, we are definitely hearing it from Russia. This is a great model for Russia. A ceasefire and then the rest? We need to clearly understand what ‘the rest’ is,” he said.

While in Hungary, Zelensky also met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and urged “a stronger response from Western nations to North Korea’s new role in the Russia-Ukraine war.”

“We need weapons, not support in talks. Hugs with Putin will not help,” Zelensky said. “Some leaders have been hugging him for 20 years, and things are only getting worse. He thinks only about wars and will not change. Only pressure can put limits on him.”

TRUMP TEAM AND UKRAINE CONSIDERING VASTLY DIFFERENT PATHS FOR END TO RUSSIAN INVASION

PUTIN: LOOKIN FOR A RESET: In a speech Thursday to the Valdai International Discussion Club, Russian President Vladimir Putin floated the idea that there could be a reset in Russia’s relations with the U.S. now that Donald Trump is coming back in power.

“Putin implied that Trump’s presidential campaign expressed a ‘desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis’ and later noted that Russia is open to the ‘possibility of restoring relations with the United States,’” according to the Institute for the Study of War.

But the ISW assessment notes that what Putin is seeking is a reset entirely on Moscow’s terms.

“Putin attempted to blame the United States for undermining U.S.–Russia relations, noting that the United States imposed sanctions and restrictions on Russia, and chose to support Kyiv — without mentioning that these measures were in response to Russia’s illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine,” the ISW said. “Putin’s statement implies that Russia would only accept any reset in U.S.–Russia relations if the U.S. dropped sanctions and restrictions against Russia and stopped supporting Ukraine — effectively entirely on terms that benefit Russia at the expense of U.S. interests.”

TOM ROGAN OPINION: WILL TRUMP NEGOTIATE A UKRAINE PEACE OR SEE PUTIN NEUTER HIM AND UKRAINE?

THE RUNDOWN:

Washington Examiner: Austin tells troops DOD will make ‘orderly’ transition to Trump administration

Washington Examiner: In his second term, Trump will be free to make over the military and reshape foreign policy to his liking

Washington Examiner: How Trump could impact the Pentagon

Washington Examiner: Trump victory raises questions over future of Ukraine military aid

Washington Examiner: Trump team and Ukraine considering vastly different paths for end to Russian invasion

Washington Examiner: Putin congratulates Trump, praises him for resilience after assassination attempt

Washington Examiner: World leaders congratulate Trump on election victory while enemies brood

Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: Will Trump negotiate a Ukraine peace or see Putin neuter him and Ukraine?

Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: Will Trump let Viktor Orban play him like a puppet?

Washington Examiner: Tom Rogan Opinion: What Trump’s return means for the trans-Atlantic alliance

Washington Examiner: Iran-affiliated Telegram account posts video threatening to assassinate Trump

Washington Examiner: Judge rules 9/11 masterminds’ plea deals valid, overriding Lloyd Austin

Washington Examiner: Border Patrol agents joyful over Trump’s return to White House: ‘We have hope’

Washington Examiner: House Democrats schedule leadership elections with majority still undecided

Washington Examiner: Chance for Democrats to flip House narrows with two key seat flips

Military Times: Former VA Secretary to Lead Trump’s Pentagon Transition Efforts

New York Times: Civilian Terror: Russia Hits Ukrainian Cities With Waves of Drones

Washington Post: Pentagon anticipates major upheaval with Trump’s return to White House

Washington Post: Federal workers prepare for cuts, forced relocations

Soldier of Fortune: Is the US Headed to Civil War? Here’s How to Tell

Washington Post: Gerry Connolly, longtime Virginia congressman, says he has esophageal cancer

Washington Post: At sentencing, Jan. 6 rioter demands ‘full pardon,’ gets 8-year term

Washington Post: ‘We have won’: Russians envision new global system with Trump victory

Washington Post: Israel’s new defense minister seen as a ‘yes-man’

Defense News: Israel to Buy 25 F-15s, with Eyes on Long-Distance Combat Punch

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Pentagon Plans $6 Billion in Ukraine Aid Ahead of Presidential Change

Air & Space Forces Magazine: What Could the Air Force Look Like Under a New Trump Administration?

Air & Space Forces Magazine: To Boost Tech Innovation, NATO Follows Path Blazed by Air Force 

Aviation Week: USAF Starts Study of Aeromedical Evacuation’s Future

DefenseScoop: How Things Are Going with the Air Force’s Experimental NIPRGPT Chatbot

Defense One: Pentagon Puts a Dent in Cyber Workforce Vacancies

Task & Purpose: Air Force Fires a Commander at Montana Nuclear Missile Base After Investigation

Breaking Defense: Opinion: US Air Force Hit 2024 Recruiting Goal by Meeting Americans Where They Are, Not Lowering Standards

THE CALENDAR: 

FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 8 

8 a.m. Wilson Center Indo-Pacific Program virtual discussion:  “Washington’s New Pivot: U.S. Election Results and Implications for the Indo-Pacific,” with former South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Ho-Young Ahn, Kyung-Nam University professor; Don McLain Gill, De La Salle University professor; Satoru Mori, Kaio University professor; and former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Wilson Center fellow https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/washingtons-new-pivot

8:30 a.m. 2445 M. St., NW — George Washington University Project for Media and National Security Defense Writers Group conversation: “Climate Security is National Security” with Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations and environment, and chief sustainability officer email [email protected].

2 p.m. 1030 15th Street NW — Atlantic Council Global China Hub virtual discussion of new report: “Capture the (Red) Flag: An Inside Look Into China’s Hacking Contest Ecosystem,” with Jessica Ruzic, CISA deputy associate chief of policy; Eugenio Benincasa, senior researcher, cyberdefense project on ETH Zurich Center for Security Studies Risk and Resilience Team; Dakota Cary, nonresident fellow, Atlantic Council Global China Hub; Devin Thorne, principal threat intelligence analyst for China geopolitics at Recorded Future; Anastacia Webster, lead of CISA’s Academic Partnerships and Outreach Sub-Division; and Melanie Hart, senior director, Atlantic Council Global China Hub https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/capture-the-red-flag-an-inside-look-into-chinas-hacking-contest-ecosystem/

2 p.m. 2301 Constitution Ave. NW — U.S. Institute of Peace discussion: “The New Lives of Russians in Exile,” with Aron Ouzilevski, Institute of Current World Affairs fellow; Lyubov Sobol, Russian opposition politician; Anna Veduta, director of strategic communication, Free Russia Foundation; and Gregory Feifer, Institute of Current World Affairs executive director https://www.usip.org/events/new-lives-russians-exile