Never Trumper Bill Kristol tweeted out this morning to praise Jim Mattis for decrying President Trump’s policies in a new book he is putting out after quitting his post as Defense Secretary last year.
“Jim Mattis warned us when he resigned. He’s warning us again. But he thinks it’s inappropriate for him to play a political role. Will no current Republican members of Congress step up to say we can and must do better than Trump? Has even minimal political courage become so rare?”
SEE TWEET FROM @BillKristol BELOW:
Jim Mattis warned us when he resigned. He’s warning us again. But he thinks it’s inappropriate for him to play a political role. Will no current Republican members of Congress step up to say we can and must do better than Trump? Has even minimal political courage become so rare?
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 28, 2019
Tensions began between Mattis and Trump amidst various policy disagreements including President Trump’s decision to ban transgendered people from the military. According to The Washington Post, Mattis states in his book ‘Call Sign Chaos’, “I did as well as I could for as long as I could” and hints that President Trump is not committed to working with allies.
It’s clear that Mattis does not agree with President Trump’s stance to put America first. But we have heard this story before. Nobody is going to agree with 100% of President Trump’s stances. But this does not mean you have to turn on him completely, or profit off of dissent by writing a book, as so many others have done.
The Guardian reports:
The book, Call Sign Chaos, will be published next week. The Guardian obtained a copy. In it, Mattis avoids direct criticism of his former boss but offers some pointed comments that will probably be seized on by opponents of the president.
The retired US marine corps general recalls being surprised in November 2016 when he was called by the then vice-president-elect, Mike Pence, and asked to meet Trump to discuss the job of defense secretary.
Mattis describes being driven to the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and having an “amiable” meeting.
But, he notes: “I figured that my strong support of Nato and my dismissal of the use of torture on prisoners would have the president-elect looking for another candidate.”
Shortly before the tweet posted at the top, Kristol also posted:
Shorter Mattis: For the sake of the country, don’t re-elect Trump.
”We can see storm clouds gathering. A polemicist’s role is not sufficient for a leader….We will occupy an increasingly lonely position, one that puts us at increasing risk in the world.”
SEE TWEET FROM @BillKristol BELOW:
Shorter Mattis: For the sake of the country, don’t re-elect Trump.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 28, 2019
”We can see storm clouds gathering. A polemicist’s role is not sufficient for a leader….We will occupy an increasingly lonely position, one that puts us at increasing risk in the world.” https://t.co/eFX0huwofM
CBS reporter Christina Ruffini tweeted out an excerpt of the book. The last sentence is the most targeted: “Wise leadership requires collaboration; otherwise, it will lead to failure”.
SEE TWEET FROM @EanaRuffini BELOW:
Jim Mattis in the WSJ, “Wise leadership requires collaboration; otherwise, it will lead to failure.” pic.twitter.com/C1zftY6rHZ
— Christina Ruffini (@EenaRuffini) August 28, 2019
Mark Esper is the current and 27th United States defense secretary. He appears to be flying under the radar as of yet and since his confirmation in July, it seems to be business as usual.
