Trump withdraws nomination of controversial figure to Pentagon post

Anthony Tata had failed to secure a Senate confirmation hearing. PHOTO: ANTHONY TATA/FACEBOOK

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the nomination of Anthony Tata, a retired Army brigadier general who has called former President Barack Obama a "terrorist leader," to be undersecretary of defense for policy, the White House said on Monday (Aug 3).

The White House statement came a day after a Pentagon spokeswoman said Tata, who failed to secure a Senate confirmation hearing, had taken a different, less-senior policy role at the Defense Department.

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