Apparently pushed over the edge by President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria counter his counsel, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis today resigned from the Trump Administration and announced that he would be leaving his post in February.
Wrote Secretary Mattis in his resignation letter (below): “Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position.”
Tweeted President Trump: “General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years.” The President praised Mattis’ service and accomplishments and said that a successor “will be named shortly.”
