Incoming flak: Pentagon’s new spokesman an old hand facing new reality in 'post-truth' age

Over the last four years, public affairs officials at the Pentagon, both military and civilian, were afraid to say much of anything in public for fear of ending up on the wrong side of President Donald Trump. Even the defense secretaries had to choose their words carefully so as not to find themselves sideways with Trump.

Under President Biden, things will be different, insisted retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, who, as assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, is the chief spokesman for both the Pentagon in general and for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in particular. On his sixth day on the job, Kirby spoke with the Washington Examiner’s Jamie McIntyre.