Defense secretary nominee Mark Esper told senators at his confirmation hearing that his views are very much in line with those of Jim Mattis, President Trump’s first defense secretary, who resigned in December over policy disagreements with the commander in chief.
Michigan Democrat Gary Peters asked Esper point blank, “Would you be a secretary of defense with views more aligned with Secretary Mattis or more aligned with President Trump?”
“I don’t know where to pick between the two,” Esper said, “but clearly I shared Secretary Mattis’ views and I’ve expressed that publicly.”
Esper noted at the Tuesday hearing that upon being appointed acting secretary, his initial message to Defense Department employees restated the core priorities Mattis outlined in the National Defense Strategy, namely to build a more lethal force, strengthen alliances, and reform the Pentagon to free up resources.
“The international rules-based order in the wake of World War II is the order that has ensured prosperity and security now for 75 years,” Esper said, echoing another common Mattis talking point. “I’m fully committed to that.”
Esper also testified that the day after his appointment, he was on a plane en route to Brussels to bring a message to NATO allies of America’s unwavering support for the alliance and iron-clad commitment to the Article 5 provision for common defense, another of Mattis’ top priorities.
Asked by Peters if he might also consider resigning on principle if asked to support a policy counter to his values, Esper said, “Absolutely.”
“In the Army, I grew up with this view that you’re asked to do anything that is illegal, or immoral, or unethical, then that would be the point at which you have to consider resignation and you’d be willing to do that,” Esper said.
Virginia Democrat Tim Kaine, who presented Esper to the committee and endorsed his nomination, also made a comparison between Esper and Mattis in his opening comments.
“Most of us were very discouraged by the resignation of Secretary Mattis, and what we’ve hoped for is a successor who could show the same level of candor and principle and a willingness to remain independent even in the most challenging circumstances,” Kaine said. “I believe that Dr. Esper has those traits.”
