When you are telling your boss that he is about to step on his...er.. a sensitive part of his anatomy it is all about linguistics.
Paying attention to small details and being very courteous is the best way to ensure that your advise is followed and you don't end up in a position where you can do nothing to influencing the outcome.
Remember you are, at this point, giving legal and political advice to someone who does not have to listen to you.
If you have risen to the political office of four star General, and all Generals are political animals, he should be able to respond properly even if he was ambushed.
In fact he should be able to smell a political ambush six miles away.
So that does concern me a bit.
Still, nothing I can do about it.
We are in agreement.
Trump is not a madman.
This general is a loyal Patriot. I hope I don’t have to eat my words since the military IS populated with a bunch of “perfumed princes of the Potomac”. This is a tempest in a tea cup for the press.
And, the expression I think you’re looking for is, “Stepped on his crank”.
;)