Sen. Lindsey Graham is on board with Patrick Shanahan becoming the next secretary of defense although the two were at odds with one another in February over troop presence in Syria.
“I believe Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan is a logical choice to become the next Secretary of Defense,” the South Carolina Republican, a leading voice on military matters, said in a statement Thursday. “He has demonstrated to me his detailed understanding that a strong, modern, and well-trained military is essential in a dangerous and complex world.”
“I hope and expect that he will advocate for defense policies that lead from the front, not from behind,” Graham said. “I also hope and expect he will make it clear to America’s adversaries that we mean what we say, and that our allies see us as a reliable partner.”
The White House announced Thursday that Trump intends to nominate Shanahan, who has been serving as acting secretary of defense for months, to serve as secretary of defense.
Last month, Shanahan was cleared of allegations that he used his position to favor his former employer, Boeing, following an investigation from the Pentagon’s inspector general.
The men reportedly participated in a tense exchange in February after Graham pressed Shanahan on the Trump administration’s plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria by the end of April. Graham claimed he told Shanahan the proposal was the “dumbest … idea I’ve ever heard,” the Washington Post reported.
“Well, if the policy is going to be that we are leaving by April 30, I am now your adversary, not your friend,” Graham claimed he told Shanahan. Other lawmakers present confirmed that Graham had made the comment.
According to NBC News, Shanahan then asked Graham if he had any outstanding questions “as an adversary.”
“It got pretty tense,” one official who witnessed the exchange told NBC News.
“It was heated, particularly on Graham’s side,” another person familiar with the exchange said.
However, another defense official said that the conversation ultimately ended on a “positive note.”
Shanahan has served as acting secretary of defense since James Mattis resigned in December. His decision to step down was made in part due to the Trump administration’s plan to withdraw all 2,000 troops from Syria.
Despite President Trump’s original orders, the White House announced in February that approximately 200 troops would remain in Syria.
