Sunday, October 14, 2018

U.S. President Donald Trump Says Defense Secretary James Mattis 'May Leave'


Reuters: Trump calls Mattis 'sort of a Democrat' and says he 'may leave'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said he is unsure whether Defense Secretary James Mattis is planning to step down from his post, but told CBS’ “60 Minutes” in a pre-taped interview that the retired general might and that he regards Mattis as “sort of a Democrat.”

“It could be that he is” planning to depart, Trump said, according to an excerpt of a transcript released on Sunday before the show airs. “I think he’s sort of a Democrat, if you want to know the truth. But General Mattis is a good guy. We get along very well. He may leave. I mean, at some point, everybody leaves. Everybody. People leave. That’s Washington.”

This marks the first time that the Republican president has publicly said anything negative about Mattis, who last month told reporters not to take seriously reports that he may be leaving.

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WNU Editor: The press is making too much out of this. When President Trump wants someone gone .... he is very clear about that. In this case, it is more him speculating that US Secretary of Defense Mattis may be leaving, not because he is being told to leave. As to how long is he going to stay .... I give it one more year. There are major leadership changes in the Pentagon next year, as well as policy decisions and long term plans that will probably a take year to iron out. And then there are the ongoing wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan that has been the focus for every Defense Secretary since 9/11. After that it is back to Standford. I remember reading in the SF Chronicle before his selection as US Defense Secretary that he enjoyed living in the Bay area. An opinion that I also share.

More News On U.S. President Donald Trump Speculating Defense Secretary James Mattis 'May Leave'

Trump Gives Mattis an Inauspicious Label: ‘Democrat’ -- The New York Times
Trump says Defense Secretary Mattis could leave administration: 'He's sort of a Democrat' -- FOX News
Trump says Mattis 'could be' leaving as US defense chief -- AFP
Trump signals more Cabinet changes to come with General Mattis on the chopping block, calling his defense secretary 'sort of a Democrat' -- Daily Mail
Trump unsure if Mattis will stay: 'He's sort of a Democrat' -- The Hill
Donald Trump calls Defence Secretary James Mattis 'sort of a Democrat', says he may leave -- ABC News Online
President Trump says Defense Secretary Mattis is 'sort of a Democrat' and may leave -- USA Today

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