Politics

President Trump Fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper

The head of the National Counterterrorism Center will take Esper's place.

President Trump Fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper
Susan Walsh / AP
SMS

President Trump has fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. 

Christopher Miller, who serves as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will take his place, effective immediately. 

The president didn't say why he broke with Esper, but the two previously butted heads over how to handle civil unrest in U.S. cities.