‘I’ve read Mao Zedong, I’ve read Karl Marx, I’ve read Lenin – that doesn’t make me communist,’ says General Mark Milley

“On the issue of critical race theory, a lot of us have to get much smarter on whatever the theory is,” General Milley said.

“I do think it’s important, actually, for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and be widely read,” he added.

“I want to understand white rage, and I’m white, and I want to understand it. What is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the constitution of the United States of America, what caused that? I want to find that out,” Gen Milley said, referring to the insurrection at the Capitol on 6 January.

“I want to maintain an open mind here. And I do want to understand that,” he added. “It’s important that leaders now and in the future do understand it.”