Mattis’ Brother: Resignation Over Syria ‘Definition Of Patriotism And Integrity’

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Defense Secretary James Mattis arrive for an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of attack on the Beirut Barracks in the East Room of th... WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: (AFP OUT) U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Defense Secretary James Mattis arrive for an event commemorating the 35th anniversary of attack on the Beirut Barracks in the East Room of the White House October 25, 2018 in Washington, DC. On October 23, 1983 two truck bombs struck the buildings housing Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) peacekeepers, killing 241 U.S. and 58 French peacekeepers and 6 civilians. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Outgoing Defense Secretary James Mattis’s decision to leave the administration over President Trump’s plan to pull U.S. troops out of Syria is being considered the “definition of patriotism and integrity,” at least by his family, according to The Seattle Times. 

“No one should assume that his service to his country will end. And the manner of his departure is yet another service to the nation. It is the very definition of patriotism and integrity,” Tom Mattis, James Mattis’s older brother, told The Seattle Times earlier this week.

The departing defense secretary called his brother over the weekend to inform him that instead of leaving the administration in February, as he planned to do with his resignation, President Trump wanted him to leave sooner.

“He was very calm about the whole thing. Very matter of fact. No anger, ” Tom Mattis reportedly said. “As I have said many times in other circumstances, Jim knows who he is … many more Americans (now) know his character.”

Before announcing his decision to pull the U.S. out of Syria, Trump reportedly ignored the advice of his closest advisers, including James Mattis, who reportedly warned that ISIS still has a footing in the region and told Trump that a U.S. withdrawal would ignite chaos.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. It may be. But don’t expect any Post Offices to get the Mattis name any time soon.

  2. “No one should assume that his service to his country will end. And the manner of his departure is yet another service to the nation. It is the very definition of patriotism and integrity,” Tom Mattis, James Mattis’s older brother, told The Seattle Times earlier this week.

    “As I have said many times in other circumstances, Jim knows who he is … many more Americans (now) know his character.”

  3. Trump reportedly ignored the advice of his closest advisers, including James Mattis, who reportedly warned that ISIS still has a footing in the region and told Trump that a U.S. withdrawal would ignite chaos.

    Mattis should have known warning Trump one of his decisions would cause chaos is exactly the type of decision Trump gravitates to making.
    
    "Chaos?! Let's do it!!!"
  4. Mattis knows people…

  5. Trump: ISIS told me that they will only attack Democrats. Putin said that they ISIS will go after Mueller too. Its a win-win for me.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

24 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for mondfledermaus Avatar for bojimbo26 Avatar for theod Avatar for dave_adams Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for inversion Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for serendipitoussomnambulist Avatar for dickweed Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for zlohcuc Avatar for pshah Avatar for jinnj Avatar for georgemilquetoast Avatar for caltg Avatar for rickjones Avatar for maximus Avatar for ohcomeonnow Avatar for evave2 Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: