Trump May Be Cooling On Shanahan, Asked For Alternate Candidates During D-Day

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing regarding the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the ... WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing regarding the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of Defense, March 26, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump has asked for a Pentagon budget of over 700 billion dollars for the 2020 budget. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

While in Normandy for D-Day celebrations, President Donald Trump quietly asked at least three people for defense secretary alternatives to Patrick Shanahan after announcing his intent to nominate him in early May.

According to NBC News, Army Secretary Mark Esper was floated as a possible replacement.

Shanahan was reportedly not Trump’s first pick for the gig, as the President thinks he lacks a compelling TV presence.

Shanhan is apparently low on supporters in general within Trump’s orbit, barring National Security Adviser John Bolton, who sees him as easily bendable to Trump’s whims.

Shanahan and Trump were at odds recently over the USS John McCain debacle, with Trump calling the person who asked that it be hidden “well meaning” while Shanahan said he never would have given that order.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Trump still thinks he’s casting a “reality” show. There’s no consideration of actual substance.

  2. Shanahan was reportedly not Trump’s first pick for the gig, as the President thinks he lacks a compelling TV presence.

    Read: Does not go on Faux news and suck Trump’s ass nearly enough

  3. Yup. He’d really like a John Wayne type. Only shorter than him…

    Spankee wouldn’t know “substance” if it bit him on the a$$.

  4. “Shanahan and Trump were at odds recently over the U.S.S. John McCain debacle …”

    I’m surprised he wasn’t gone within 24 hours.

    “Shanahan was reportedly not Trump’s first pick for the gig, as the President thinks he lacks a compelling TV presence.”

    Chachi might be available … he killed at the Convention.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

37 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for ncsteve Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for 1gg Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for sandyh Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for joelopines Avatar for quin Avatar for stradivarius50t3 Avatar for eb5 Avatar for airportman Avatar for riverstreet Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for schmed Avatar for bodie1 Avatar for ljb860 Avatar for rickjones Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for tiowally Avatar for kelaine Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for rascal_crone

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: