Despite tensions brewing with China, US president-elect is expected to ‘clean house’ with those who stray from agenda

• Donald Trump inauguration – live updates

As Donald Trump takes the oath of office once again on Monday to be commander in chief, some of the generals and admirals he will command may wonder if his first order to them will be “you’re fired.”

Even as a potential war brewing with China over Taiwan and the South China Sea looms large in the plans of Congress and the general staff, Trump and his team have said that they intend for the most senior military leaders to be loyal to the president’s agenda – and to the president himself – in ways that close observers of military leadership and organization find troubling.