According to Milley, the calls were arranged due to “concerning intelligence” that the Chinese were concerned about a potential US attack on them. “I know, I am certain that President Trump did not intend to attack the Chinese,” Milley said. “My task at that time was to de-escalate.”

Staff Chairman Mark Milley

I won't share my personal recommendation to the president, but I will give you my honest opinion and my honest opinion and view shaped my recommendation, McKenzie testified. And I recommended that we maintain 2,500 troops in Afghanistan.

Staff Chairman Mark Milley

[My father] didn’t get a choice to resign,” Milley said. “Those kids there at Abbey Gate, they don’t get a choice to resign,” Milley said, referring to the 13 American service members who died during the evacuation from Kabul in late August when an ISIS-K suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest. “They can't resign so I'm not going to resign. There's no way.”

Staff Chairman Mark Milley

I would just say, at this point, it's inconclusive although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural( origin). But we don't know for certain.

Staff Chairman Mark Milley