April 11

Truman Fires MacArthur — Korean War

President Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur of all commands after MacArthur publicly contradicted administration policy by threatening to expand the Korean War into China. MacArthur had defied orders repeatedly and publicly undermined civilian authority.

MacArthur's firing reaffirmed the constitutional principle of civilian control over the military and sparked a firestorm of controversy, with MacArthur returning to a hero's welcome from critics of Truman.