To the surprise of no one, President Trump attempted to defend his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria by insulting the man best able to refute it: former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
When confronted with Mattis’s criticism of the Syria withdrawal during a White House meeting, Trump responded by calling Mattis the “world’s most overrated general.” Mattis wasn’t “tough enough” to take down the Islamic State, Trump said, declaring that it was only by his own presidential hand that terrorism in the Middle East has been reduced. “Mattis said it would take two years. I captured them in one month,” he added.
Trump’s insults and brags are ridiculous, but attacking his opponents — or, those he believes to be opponents — is standard behavior from him.
Mattis’ response demonstrates the best way to respond to a Trump spasm: Ignore it, and then laugh it off.
“I’m not just an overrated general. I am the greatest, the world’s most overrated general,” Mattis said during a speech at the white-tie Al Smith Dinner. “I’m honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress. So I guess I’m the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly, that sounds pretty good to me. And you do have to admit that, between me and Meryl, at least we’ve had some victories.”
Mattis doesn’t need to defend his record because it speaks for itself. Mattis knows that, which is why he was able to make light of Trump’s comments. Trump knows it too, and though that won’t stop him from insulting Mattis in the future, it will make him look deeply unserious and perhaps a bit foolish.
Trump’s constant name-calling is indeed a problem, but it is in part dependent on how we respond to it. Respond in a similar manner and mimic his approach, and the only person who wins is Trump.
