In perhaps his greatest political feat, Mattis has maintained this air of independence without directly provoking a president who demands absolute loyalty. “Our country, right now, it’s got problems that we don’t have in the military,” Mattis told them. But Mattis’s deft political touch has surprised many who watched him fall out of favor with the Obama White House. Others interpreted Mattis’s response as an expression of respect for the oath that transgender troops took to serve. During his confirmation hearings in January, Mattis offered unflinching support for the service of gay and transgender troops.

Source: Washington Post August 30, 2017 22:41 UTC