Before leaving as acting defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan made sure former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’ Pentagon portrait was put in place inside the Defense Department’s headquarters.
FIRST LOOK: One of Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan’s final acts today was to ensure the official portrait of James Mattis was hung in the Pentagon. The signatures of the US Constitution are on Mattis’ tie. (Authorized photos) pic.twitter.com/dRGvgEX3Ir
— Elizabeth McLaughlin (@Elizabeth_McLau) June 21, 2019
FIRST LOOK: One of acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan’s last acts today was to hang Secretary Jim Mattis’ official portait in the Secretary’s hallway. It looks really good. What’s on the tie? The signatures on the US Constitution. We were authorized to take photos. pic.twitter.com/Y9NpkdSbbc
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) June 21, 2019
The portrait, revealed Friday, features Mattis wearing a tie with the signatures of the U.S. Constitution and shows him wearing an Eagle, Globe, and Anchor cufflink as a nod to his over-40-year career in the Marine Corps. Next to the portrait is a brief biography of the 26th defense secretary.
Mattis was pushed out of President Trump’s administration after he submitted his letter of resignation. He disagreed with Trump’s decision to completely withdraw from Syria. After Mattis’ letter received a slew of media attention, Trump moved up his departure date from February 2019 to January 2019.
Shanahan was Trump’s pick to be his next full-time defense secretary until he withdrew after allegations of domestic violence between him, his ex-wife, and his son were revealed during the second screening. Secretary of the Army Mark Esper was picked to replace Shanahan.
