Donald Trump Is Reportedly Telling Defense Secretary To Leave Immediately

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Defense Secretary James Mattis arrive for an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of attack on the Beirut Barracks in the East Room of the White House October 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. On October 23, 1983 two truck bombs struck the buildings housing Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) peacekeepers, killing 241 U.S. and 58 French peacekeepers and 6 civilians. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

When Defense Secretary James Mattis tendered his resignation earlier this week he said he would stay on the job for a couple months to help transition someone new into the important position. But it looks Donald Trump doesn’t want him to stay another day. Today CBS News correspondent David Martin “has confirmed from a senior administration official that @RealDonaldTrump is expected to order Sec of Defense Mattis to leave the job immediately and will appoint Dep Sec Patrick Shanahan as Acting Sec of Defense @CBSNews.”

.@CBSDavidMartin on Mattis on @FaceTheNation: “We have a statement from the Pentagon saying the Secretary of Defense serves at the pleasure of the President. And I interpret that as meaning that the Secretary has been asked to go at once.” pic.twitter.com/K48DjKzE8m

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 23, 2018

Trump is reportedly seething over the way Mattis’ resignation is being portrayed. Saturday Trump tweeted:

When President Obama ingloriously fired Jim Mattis, I gave him a second chance. Some thought I shouldn’t, I thought I should. Interesting relationship-but I also gave all of the resources that he never really had. Allies are very important-but not when they take advantage of U.S.

As for Mattis’ temporary replacement. The New York Times points out:

Mr. Shanahan, who, like Mr. Mattis, is from Washington State, is a former Boeing executive. Aides say that Mr. Trump likes him in part because he often tells the president that he is correct to complain about the expense of defense systems.