Pentagon officials brace for 'illegal' orders from Donald Trump: Report

Pentagon officials are having discussions on how to respond to any illegal order from the to-be next US president Donald Trump, such as deploying the military domestically, according to a CNN report.

The officials are also reportedly preparing for the possibility that Trump may change a few rules that will effectively fire several civil servants from their posts.

During his election campaigns, Trump repeated that if he were elected he would send military after his enemies.US laws prohibit active-duty troops from being deployed for law enforcement purposes.

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Officials are also living with the fear that Trump may replace the present civil service staff with people loyal to him.

Trump may test military norms in the second term

DonaldTrumpis set to resume his sometimes fraught relationship with the military as commander-in-chief, promising to keep US troops out of wars abroad while possibly using them on the streets at home.

As with many subjects,Trumphas made contradictory comments about American forces, at times lauding their power while also claiming they were depleted and in need of rebuilding.

He at times clashed with his generals during his 2016-2020 term in office and caused shock by reportedly referring to fallen troops as "losers" and "suckers", something he denied.

More recently, his staff sparked controversy by shoving an employee at Arlington, the country's most hallowed military cemetery.

Kathleen McInnis, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, told AFP that he could deploy the military to handle domestic opponents or migrants could pose serious dilemmas for troops if put into practice during his second term.

"Soldiers are required to not followillegalorders, but the line between legal andillegalin some of these instances can be murky," said McInnis toAFP.

Trumptold Time magazine earlier this year that his plan for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants would involve the National Guard, "but if I thought things were getting out of control, I would have no problem using the military."

(With inputs from agencies)