President Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Dec. 6. The Mattis resignation is unusual precisely because these types of dramatic fire alarm moments are not supposed to happen if presidents successfully bargain with their advisers. Of course, withdrawing from Syria is a long-held Trump policy preference, and is certainly the president’s prerogative as commander in chief. With the Mattis resignation, these alarms — already getting louder and more frequent — are approaching full klaxon levels. Sure, Trump’s advisers aren’t the first to push back against a president.

Source: Washington Post December 21, 2018 08:15 UTC