The New York Times Tries To Understand The Working Relationship Between President Trump And Defense Secretary Mattis

President Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Norfolk, Va., in July. Credit Hilary Swift for The New York Times

New York Times: Mattis Shows How to Split With Trump Without Provoking Him

WASHINGTON — Nearly all of President Trump’s top national security officials have been the target of his ire, whether it was privately dressing down his attorney general, publicly disagreeing with his top diplomat or musing about exiling his national security adviser to Afghanistan.

But not Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Eight months into the job, Mr. Mattis has exhibited a political deftness that has eluded other members of Mr. Trump’s cabinet. None has managed to steer a path so different from the president’s without incurring his wrath and while deflecting attention over apparent or genuine splits.

Where Mr. Trump threatened in a bombastic United Nations speech on Tuesday to “destroy” North Korea, Mr. Mattis emphasized that the issue should be resolved “through diplomatic means.” On Mr. Trump’s ban on transgender people in the military, Mr. Mattis has said little publicly but put the question on ice by announcing a months long study of it.

And one day after his boss brandished the word “sovereignty” in that United Nations address, Mr. Mattis spoke repeatedly of the need for the United States to consult its partners.

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WNU Editor: I am sure that being a US Defense Secretary is not an easy job. As to working with President Trump .... doubly so. But at least publicly the perception is that President Trump has given him a lot of leeway. Another person that President Trump seems to be giving a lot of leeway is his White House Chief of Staff John Kelly.