U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House national security adviser John Bolton. Reuters
Foreign Policy: Bolton’s Whisper Campaign to Oust Mattis
Sources say the hawkish national security advisor is behind rumors that the defense secretary plans to resign.
White House National Security Advisor John Bolton and his deputy are trying to squeeze out U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis by spreading rumors about his imminent departure, according to two well-placed sources.
Bolton and Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, who has repeatedly clashed with Mattis over Defense Department personnel appointments, believe the defense secretary is “not ideologically aligned” with President Donald Trump’s administration, according to one of the sources, a former senior defense official. The two are trying “to build the sense that he is done for,” the former official said.
“They have the knives out.”
One Trump administration official noted, “Mira and Bolton are the only ones who benefit if Secretary Mattis leaves.” The secretary is “highly regarded” within the cabinet and by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the official said.
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Update: John Bolton reportedly has 'knives out' for Jim Mattis (Washington Examiner)
WNU Editor: Everyone in the White House serves at the pleasure of President Trump, and President Trump has made it very clear that he wants him to stay .... U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis: President Trump Called Him To Express '100 Percent' Support (October 16, 2018).
