Donald Trump urges Microsoft to sack Lisa Monaco (Picture credit: AP, US department of justice)
US President Donald Trump on Friday publicly demanded that Microsoft dismiss Lisa Monaco, the company’s president of global affairs and a former top official in Democratic administrations.In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump claimed ‘corrupt and totally Trump deranged’ Monaco posed risks to national security because of her past government roles. “She is a menace to US National Security, especially given the major contracts that Microsoft has with the United States Government,” Trump wrote.“Because of Monaco’s many wrongful acts, the US Government recently stripped her of all Security Clearances, took away all of her access to National Security Intelligence, and banned her from all Federal Properties.”Trump added that “it is my opinion that Microsoft should immediately terminate the employment of Lisa Monaco.” According to news agency Reuters, Monaco began working at Microsoft in July, taking charge of the firm’s global engagement with governments. Her LinkedIn profile confirms the appointment. She previously served as a national security aide under Barack Obama, helped coordinate the justice department’s response to the January 6 Capitol attack, and was deputy attorney general during Joe Biden’s administration. Trump linked his demand to Monaco’s role in the Biden justice department, which pursued legal cases against him. He argued that her senior position at Microsoft, with access to sensitive information, was “unacceptable.”The criticism comes after former FBI director James Comey, a longtime Trump adversary, was indicted on obstruction and perjury charges. Trump has said he expects “others” to face prosecution, according to Reuters.The attack on Monaco highlights Trump’s broader pattern of targeting perceived political enemies. Since returning to the White House in January, he has pushed for charges against several figures, including former national security adviser John Bolton and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, and has exerted pressure on institutions ranging from law firms to universities.The president’s interventions have also extended into corporate America. His administration previously demanded the resignation of Intel’s chief executive, pressed Disney’s ABC over comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show, and influenced decisions at other major firms.Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to navigate its relationship with the administration. Earlier this month, CEO Satya Nadella attended a White House dinner with Trump and other technology leaders.The company has also been under scrutiny for its contracts with US agencies and, separately, for restricting certain cloud services to a unit of the Israeli military following a review of alleged surveillance practices, reported CNBC.
