Milley pressed on claims he was concerned Trump would attempt coup - CNN

"I'm not going to comment on what's in any of those books," Milley said during a press conference at the Pentagon where he was repeatedly pressed on a myriad of claims about his relationship with the former President.

However, Milley did stress that he and the other top Pentagon leaders have always "maintained" their oaths to the Constitution and not to any individual, making clear that "the military did not and will not and should not ever get involved in domestic politics."

"I want you to know, and I want everyone to know, I want America to know, that the United States military is an apolitical institution.

We're an apolitical institution," Milley added.

The top US general also reiterated that he has always presented the best military advice to Trump and President Joe Biden.

"The gospel of the Führer."

Those startling comments were only the latest instance where Milley found himself in the middle of major political fights in both the Trump era and during the fallout from the January 6 insurrection.

Another book by Wall Street Journal reporter Michael Bender says Milley repeatedly pushed back on Trump's argument that the military should intervene violently in order to quell the civil unrest that erupted around the country last year and was the lone voice of opposition to those demands during heated Oval Office discussions.

Titled "Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost," the book reveals new details about how Milley repeatedly intervened as Trump's language became increasingly violent during Oval Office meetings as protests in Seattle and Portland began to receive attention from cable new outlets.

"Just shoot them," Trump said on multiple occasions inside the Oval Office, according to the excerpts.

When Milley and then-Attorney General William Barr would push back, Trump toned it down, but only slightly, Bender adds.

Trump fallout

While Milley has sought to distance himself from politics, Wednesday's press conference once again underscores how he and other top officials are still grappling with the fallout from Trump's presidency months after he left office.