Overseas, Mattis was perhaps the only Trump administration official who had the unconditional trust of America’s closest allies. Unstated, but implied, was that Trump’s erratic and impetuous approach to foreign policy isn’t up to the threats America faces. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis waits for the arrival of Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Raimundas Karoblis at the Pentagon last month. The defense secretary retreated from public view both at home and overseas. “Secretary Mattis was giving advice the president needs to hear,” Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.)

Source: Washington Post December 21, 2018 02:11 UTC