Official portrait of General Mark A. Milley

The official portrait of General Mark A. Milley, the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Trump-appointee, was unveiled at The Pentagon on January 10, 2025, by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The painting was displayed in the Pentagon's E-ring hallway, a corridor featuring portraits of all former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs. The portrait was removed just days later, reportedly on the orders of Donald Trump in one of his first official acts, within two hours of his inauguration, in an unprecedented step. It was widely interpreted as political retaliation, sparking concerns about politicization of the military and broader implications for Trump's presidency.
Removal of the portrait
On January 20, 2025, shortly after Trump's inauguration, the portrait was removed from its place in The Pentagon's E-ring hallway. Witnesses reported seeing Pentagon personnel taking down the painting within two hours of the inauguration. Following its removal, workers reportedly patched and repainted the wall where it had been displayed.
The Pentagon did not provide an official explanation for the removal; however, sources indicated that it was ordered by the White House. The removal sparked concerns within the defense community. Its removal was described as a warning to future chiefs that they can be erased from Pentagon history if they fall out of favor with Trump.

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