The media is constantly trying to undermine the Trump administration.
But they picked the wrong target in James Mattis.
“Mad Dog” Mattis sent the media scurrying under a rock with one bombshell statement.
The New York Times reported that Mattis fought Donald Trump on the Syrian air strikes.
They claimed he opposed Trump on obtaining Congressional authorization for the strikes.
The goal was to sow chaos in the administration by presenting a picture of an administration racked with division.
The Times reports:
“Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urged President Trump to get congressional approval before the United States launched airstrikes against Syria last week, but was overruled by Mr. Trump, who wanted a rapid and dramatic response, military and administration officials said.
Mr. Trump, the officials said, wanted to be seen as backing up a series of bellicose tweets with action, but was warned that an overly aggressive response risked igniting a wider war with Russia.
Friday night’s limited strikes on three targets, which lasted under two minutes, were the compromise.
The debate reflects a divide between Mr. Trump and the defense secretary, who, like no other member of the cabinet, has managed to maintain a cordial relationship with the president even while reining him in.
Until this month, Mr. Mattis had a buffer at the White House in the former national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who often deferred to the defense secretary, a retired four-star Marine general. The arrival of Mr. Trump’s new national security adviser, John R. Bolton, means that buffer is gone.”
But this story appears to be fake news.
Both Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Mattis’ own spokeswoman denied the report in the strongest of terms.
“Reports that Secretary Mattis urged the president to seek congressional approval before last week's strikes in Syria are categorically false,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in statement.
She argues Trump “appropriately ordered the strikes under his constitutional authorities.” https://t.co/WGz9Ca9myc
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 18, 2018
Mattis’ spokeswoman was also categorical on this point last night. https://t.co/lIf6dCkMbj
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) April 18, 2018
Mattis has been one of the most trusted and effective Cabinet advisors Trump has.
The media wants to play up tensions between him and Bolton in the hopes that Mattis quits.
Will their scheme work?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
