Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and President Donald Trump at the Pentagon following a meeting of the National Security Council in Washington, D.C., July 20, 2017. (DOD/U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Dominique A. Pineiro)
NBC: Mattis is out of the loop and Trump doesn't listen to him, say officials
On Iran, North Korea and other major issues, the defense secretary has been out of the loop.
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.
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Update: Mattis shut out of major administration decisions: report (The Hill)
WNU Editor: I can understand why he may not be in the loop on diplomatic issues. Diplomacy is the responsibility of the US State Department .... the Pentagon can only advise .... even when diplomacy and military manners cross each other. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis also serves at the pleasure of the President, and right now he is the President's front man when he goes to China tomorrow.
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