Before leaving office, former president Joe Biden pardoned Milley to prevent his successor from enacting retribution against the former general.

Former President Biden’s preemptive pardon for retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will give the retired military official a shield against any action that President Trump might take against him amid their highly public feud.

"My family and I are deeply grateful for the President's action today," Milley said in a statement to USA Today provided by a spokesperson.

Gen. Mark Milley, the now-retired former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commented on the pardon he received in Biden's final hours in office.

President Biden granted pardons to several prominent public servants Monday who have faced attacks from President-elect Trump in one of his final acts in office. Biden issued pardons for Dr.