Mark Esper has been confirmed and sworn in as Trump’s new Secretary of Defense.
He’s got big shoes to fill after Jim ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis, but he’ll do just fine.
FOX News reports:
Mark Esper sworn in as new secretary of defense
Former Army Lt. Col. Mark Esper was sworn in as the new defense secretary during a brief White House ceremony Tuesday, making him the first permanent Pentagon boss since James Mattis resigned last December.
Esper, who served 10 years on active duty and 11 years in the National Guard and Army Reserve, was Acting Secretary before his nomination, and Patrick Shanahan had been Acting Secretary prior to that.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito administered the oath of office.
The Senate had confirmed Esper to the post earlier Tuesday by a vote of 90-8. The no votes included 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren.
Warren and Esper had a tense exchange during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, when she challenged his refusal to completely recuse himself from any and all matters related to Raytheon, the defense contractor for which he served as a lobbyist before joining the government. Esper said that ethics personnel told him not to fully recuse himself.
Here’s a video:
Here are some recent tweets from Esper’s official account:
Men & women of DOD, I am honored to serve as your 27th Secretary of Defense. Stay focused on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence & always do the right thing. Together we'll remain the most ready & lethal military force our Nation expects & deserves. pic.twitter.com/rf48V65bZn
— Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) July 24, 2019
I appreciate the strong, bipartisan support shown by the Senate today with my confirmation vote. Thank you to Chairman @JimInhofe and Ranking Member @SenJackReed for my swift confirmation process. And thank you, @POTUS, for the opportunity to serve.
— Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) July 24, 2019
Thank you to all who attended my @USArmy farewell ceremony today at the Pentagon. I am proud of the work we accomplished to increase the Army’s readiness while taking care of Army families along the way. Acting Secretary Ryan McCarthy will do an excellent job leading the service! pic.twitter.com/IlCKmVQ7kT
— Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) July 24, 2019
He’ll do a great job!
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