President Trump sent outgoing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis another round of criticism, claiming on Twitter early Monday — Christmas Eve — that he didn’t do enough to address countries that “take total advantage of the U.S.”
In a series of tweets, Trump first took aim at “those few Senators who think I don’t like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO. What I don’t like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in Military Protection and Trade…”
To those few Senators who think I don’t like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO. What I don’t like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in Military Protection and Trade…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
The president said roughly 20 minutes later that the U.S. is “substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade.”
“General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!” Trump added.
….We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
On Saturday, Trump revealed that he was pushing out Mattis at the start of the new year — two months earlier than his planned departure.
“I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!” Trump tweeted.
Mattis resigned from the Trump administration on Thursday in protest of the president’s abrupt announcement to withdraw all U.S. forces from Syria.
Mattis wrote in his resignation letter that he felt he could no longer continue to execute Trump’s policies, and cited the importance of what he called America’s “unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships.”
“Because you have the right to have a secretary of defense whose views are better aligned with yours … I believe it is right for me to step down from my position,” Mattis said.
Mattis said in his letter that his last day would be Feb. 28 to ensure a smooth transition to his successor, but Trump said Shanahan will start next week.
Trump also took aim at Brett McGurk early Monday, the U.S. envoy to the coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria who resigned Saturday — a move that was widely seen as a rebuke of the president’s recent actions in the Middle East.
“For all of the sympathizers out there of Brett McGurk remember, he was the Obama appointee who was responsible for loading up airplanes with 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH & sending it to Iran as part of the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal (now terminated) approved by Little Bob Corker,” Trump said in a Twitter post.
For all of the sympathizers out there of Brett McGurk remember, he was the Obama appointee who was responsible for loading up airplanes with 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH & sending it to Iran as part of the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal (now terminated) approved by Little Bob Corker.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
McGurk is a veteran diplomat with more than a decade of experience who reportedly had been reportedly planning to leave his job mid-February. His last day is now Dec. 31.
“The recent decision by the president came as a shock and was a complete reversal of policy that was articulated to us,” McGurk wrote in an email. “It left our coalition partners confused and our fighting partners bewildered.”
McGurk, whose diplomatic career first began in 2004, joined the White House when he was appointed by former President Barack Obama in October 2015. He was then retained by the Trump administration.
McGurk also served under former President George W. Bush as his special assistant, as well as as senior director for Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also Obama’s special adviser to the U.S. National Security Council and senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
The jab at Sen. Bob Corker comes after the Trump and the retiring Republican senator traded barbs on Twitter late Sunday.
In an interview with CNN, Corker criticized Trump, accusing him of manufacturing the ongoing federal government shutdown to appease his base.
Trump then attacked Corker on Twitter, claiming Corker is retiring at the end of the year because his poll numbers “tanked” when the president declined to endorse him.
“Senator Bob Corker just stated that, ‘I’m so priveledged to serve in the Senate for twelve years, and that’s what I told the people of our state that’s what I’d do, serve for two terms.’ But that is Not True – wanted to run but poll numbers TANKED when I wouldn’t endorse him…..” Trump tweeted.
He added: “…..Bob Corker was responsible for giving us the horrible Iran Nuclear Deal, which I ended, yet he badmouths me for wanting to bring our young people safely back home. Bob wanted to run and asked for my endorsement. I said NO and the game was over. #MAGA I LOVE TENNESSEE!”
Corker shot back in a tweet: “Yes, just like Mexico is paying for the wall… #AlertTheDaycareStaffSenator.”
AMERICA IS RESPECTED AGAIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
