Jim Mattis, the four-star Marine general turned defense secretary, resigned today in protest of President Trump’s decision to withdraw 2,000 American troops from Syria, where they have been fighting the Islamic State.
Mattis went to the White House this afternoon in a last attempt to convince Trump to keep American troops in Syria.
He was rebuffed, and told the president that he was resigning as a result.
Hours later, the Pentagon released Mattis’ resignation letter, in which he implicitly criticized his commander in chief.
Mattis said in the letter that he believes that the president deserves a defense secretary who is more in tune with his worldview.
“One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships,” Mr. Mattis wrote.
“Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position,” he wrote.
His departure leaves the Trump administration without one of the few officials viewed as standing between a mercurial president and global tumult.
Trump announced the resignation in two tweets Thursday evening, and said Mattis will leave at the end of February.
General Jim Mattis will be retiring, with distinction, at the end of February, after having served my Administration as Secretary of Defense for the past two years. During Jim’s tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
….equipment. General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
Trump’s tweets announcing the departure of his defense secretary shocked officials at the Pentagon, who as recently as this afternoon were insisting that Mattis had no intention of resigning his post, despite his anger at Trump’s decision, announced yesterday, to withdraw American troops from Syria.
Trump said he would name Mattis’ replacement shortly.