WASHINGTON − The previous head of the U.S. military expressed his “deep gratitude” in response to a preemptive pardon granted by outgoing President Joe Biden on Monday.

Retired Army Gen. Mark A. Milley held the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Donald Trump’s initial term as President. Their fraught relationship escalated after Trump left office, as the former president hinted on social media that Milley should face extreme consequences for his actions.

“My family and I greatly appreciate the President’s decision today,” Milley stated in a message to YSL News through a spokesperson. “After serving our Nation faithfully in uniform for forty-three years, defending the Constitution, I prefer not to spend whatever time I have left confronting those who may unjustly seek vengeance for imagined offenses.”

Milley mentioned his desire to protect his loved ones and colleagues, expressing gratitude towards them as well, from the potential “distraction, cost, and worry” that could arise from a politically motivated legal action.

He affirmed his commitment to “continue to uphold faith and loyalty to our nation and the Constitution until my last breath,” according to his statement.

The former Green Beret publicly distanced himself from Trump following the 2020 protests that erupted after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police.

Things took a turn when law enforcement forcibly cleared protestors from Lafayette Square, allowing Trump to stroll with top officials to St. John’s Church; Milley later apologized for being involved.

“My presence there created a misunderstanding about the military’s role in domestic politics,” Milley said shortly after the incident. “As a uniformed officer, it was a misstep that I’ve learned from, and I sincerely hope we can all take lessons from it.” He even considered resigning post photo opportunity.

The divide widened after Trump left office, with the former president accusing Milley of treason for attempting to assuage a senior Chinese military official’s fears related to a possible American attack. Some called for Milley to resign, and after the news of his conversations with the Chinese general broke, Trump remarked, “in earlier times, such a penalty would have been DEATH!”

Milley’s retirement address in 2023 contained remarks that many interpreted as indirect critiques of Trump.

“We do not pledge allegiance to a king, a queen, a tyrant, or a dictator, nor do we pledge loyalty to a wannabe dictator,” Milley stated in his retirement speech at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in September 2023. “Our oath is to the Constitution, and to the principles that define America; we would lay down our lives to defend it.”

The pardons announced on Monday also included several potential targets of Trump’s wrath, such as Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and members of the House committee that investigated the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This group included former GOP Representatives Liz Cheney from Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger from Illinois, as well as Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California.

Biden stated that these late pardons were not meant to imply any wrongdoing by those named, emphasizing, “These public servants have dedicated themselves to our nation with integrity and deserve protection from unwarranted and politically motivated legal actions.”

The Trump transition team did not respond immediately to requests for comment.