Trump Kicks Off Second Term with Bold Purge, Firing 1,000 Biden-Era Appointees Including Milley and José Andrés
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump wasted no time asserting control in his second term, launching a sweeping purge of more than 1,000 Biden-era appointees on his first day back in the office. In a fiery post on Truth Social early Tuesday, Trump announced that his Presidential Personnel Office was “actively in the process of identifying and removing” officials he deemed incompatible with his MAGA vision.
Among the high-profile names singled out for removal were retired General Mark Milley and celebrity chef José Andrés. “Jose Andres from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, Brian Hook from the Wilson Center for Scholars, and [former Atlanta Mayor] Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council — YOU’RE FIRED!” Trump wrote.
The dismissal of Milley, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2019 to 2023, reignited longstanding tensions between the two. Milley had frequently clashed with Trump during his first term, particularly over military policy and public pushback on Trump’s decisions. Milley was notably issued a preemptive pardon by outgoing President Joe Biden on his final day in office.
Celebrity chef and humanitarian José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, was another notable target. Andrés has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s policies, particularly on immigration and disaster relief. His removal from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition underscores Trump’s emphasis on ideological alignment within his administration.
Trump’s bold moves signal a no-holds-barred approach to consolidating power and reinforcing loyalty to his “America First” agenda. The purge is expected to extend beyond prominent figures to include hundreds of mid-level and lower-tier officials across various agencies.
“For Biden holdovers, the message is clear: expect the axe to fall swiftly,” one insider said, describing Trump’s focus on removing any perceived obstacles to his agenda.
This aggressive reshaping of the administration reflects Trump’s determination to set the tone for his second term. The ousting of Milley, Andrés, and others underscores his commitment to loyalty and alignment with his vision, leaving no room for dissenting voices or holdovers from the previous administration.
