Wow, Trump continues to make yuge news through his slender thumbs typing on his smartphone on Twitter.
He just announced who would be replacing Mattis as Secretary of Defense:
I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
I wonder if he got the tip from Turkey’s president Erdogan on who to pick?!
I just had a long and productive call with President @RT_Erdogan of Turkey. We discussed ISIS, our mutual involvement in Syria, & the slow & highly coordinated pullout of U.S. troops from the area. After many years they are coming home. We also discussed heavily expanded Trade.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
I hope not.
Here’s some fake news reporting:
This was not Mattis’ idea, to leave Jan 1. I am told that President annoyed by all of the positive Mattis coverage and decided to act, pushing Mattis out early, making Patrick Shanahan acting Defense Secretary Jan 1.
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) December 23, 2018
Breaking - our David Martin reports that @realDonaldTrump will order SecDef Mattis to leave his Pentagon post immediately rather than work through the February 28 date he cited in his resignation letter. Deputy Patrick Shanahan to step into role. SAO confirmed.
— margaret brennan (@margbrennan) December 23, 2018
People are going to want to pile on Patrick Shanahan for stepping in on Trump's order.
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) December 23, 2018
Don't do it. I don't know him, but he didn't create this situation, and he now has responsibilities on him that are difficult to imagine.
Mattis’ retirement announcement on Thursday led much of Washington, including key Republicans, to express alarm about the change in leadership at the Pentagon. The announcement itself followed Trump’s decision to call for a full withdrawal of troops from Syria and consideration of a drawdown in Afghanistan.
Shanahan, Trump’s choice to replace Mattis on an interim basis, was confirmed as Mattis’ No. 2 in the Pentagon last year by an overwhelming margin that came after a confirmation process that included a clash with the late Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain.
Hmm.
UPDATE: It’s been confirmed that they will push out Mattis before his February 28th date. Pretty remarkable and rather a snub against Mattis, who was trying to make it easier for Trump. Also, Shanahan is just an interim replacement, not a permanent replacement. Trump must be pretty angry about Mattis’ resignation…