Mattis is out of the loop and Trump doesn't listen to him, say officials
Source: NBC News
WASHINGTON Defense Secretary James Mattis learned in May from a colleague that President Donald Trump had made the decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, and scrambled to get his boss on the phone before a formal announcement was made. It wouldn't be the last time he was caught off guard by a presidential announcement.
A month later, Mattis was informed that Trump had ordered a pause in U.S. military exercises with South Korea only after the president had already promised the concession to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Last week, Trump again blindsided and overruled his defense secretary by publicly directing the Pentagon to create a sixth military branch overseeing operations in space.
The way these recent presidential decisions on major national security issues have played out, as detailed by current and former White House and defense officials, underscores a significant change in Mattis's role in recent months. The president is relying less and less on the advice of one of the longest-serving members of his cabinet, the officials said.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mattis-out-loop-trump-doesn-t-listen-him-say-officials-n885796
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)congress is inept, composed of a bunch of cowards, wussies, yes men, sycophants and opportunists ... crooks and gangsters. Many are in it for themselves and others are too timid to speak up and gutless because they want the vote.
pazzyanne
(6,557 posts)Now we have a rogue president raining down destruction on all levels. What good is a border wall when tRump is trashing all of our national security safeguards? Someone please explain this to me as none of this makes logical sense.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)finding/targeting scapegoats and sewing mistrust across the nation. He wants to implode the nation so he can them rebuilt it as he and his gangster GOPers want.
America has never experienced anything this vile and destructive, so most just sit around and watch as the destruction of America continues. What is most amazing are those that call themselves patriots as he destroys the nation and they cheer. A good portion of America is clearly mentally disturbed.
riversedge
(70,305 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)than demonstrating, we sit on the sidelines and watch. Write you congress critter. What a joke. The GOP congress critters and their staffs don't give a damn. They are there for money and a power grab. We never have a chance for a vote of NO CONFIDENCE or anything. Shit happens and we have to sit and watch. I think if the founders were around today they would create the system a bit differently if they wanted a true democracy. This, is not a true democracy.
lark
(23,156 posts)He might get in the way of Putin's plans to destroy us?
dajoki
(10,678 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,212 posts)There was a certain Austrian Colonel who thought the same.