<p>Just days after US defence secretary <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/what-james-mattiss-resignation-means-for-syria-afghanistan-and-nato-185942">Jim Mattis quit the cabinet</a>, President Trump in a tweet said today that the US was substantially subsidising militaries of "many rich countries" all over the world which "General Mattis did not see as a problem."</p>

<p>Trump said&nbsp;"at the same time these countries take total advantage of the US&nbsp;and our taxpayers."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To those few Senators who think I don’t like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO. What I don’t like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in Military Protection and Trade...</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1077212559604924416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Trump declared that he saw the issue as a "problem", adding, "it is being fixed!"</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">....We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1077217178322194432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Mattis, 68, had put in his papers on Thursday in a surprise move which caught the Pentagon off guard. In his resignation letter, Mattis had said that his view wasn't aligned with the president, while asserting that he was clear-eyed on "malign actors and strategic competitors being strongly held".</p>

<p>Trump had initially said Mattis was&nbsp;"retiring with distinction, at the end of February", however, in an abrupt U-turn on Sunday the president said he was replacing&nbsp;Mattis two months earlier than had been expected with reports indicating that he was miffed with him due to the harsh tone of the resignation letter which was made public to media organizations.</p>

<p>In his resignation letter, Mattis had said he would step down at the end of February to allow for a successor to be confirmed and to attend congressional hearings and a key NATO meeting.</p>

<p>However, Trump said that deputy defence secretary Patrick Shanahan would take over from Mattis on an "acting basis"&nbsp;on January 1st, 2019.</p>

<p>"He will be great!" Trump said about Shanahan. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, outgoing defence secretary James Mattis signed an order withdrawing US forces from Syria, a Defense Department spokesman said, after President Trump announced last Wednesday that America's mission in Syria was over, a hot-button issue with Mattis who did not see explicitly agree with Trump's move.</p>


Just days after US defence secretary Jim Mattis quit the cabinet, President Trump in a tweet said today that the US was substantially subsidising militaries of "many rich countries" all over the world which "General Mattis did not see as a problem.

Just days after US defence secretary Jim Mattis quit the cabinet, President Trump in a tweet said today that the US was substantially subsidising militaries of "many rich countries" all over the world which "General Mattis did not see as a problem." Trump said "at the same time these countries take total advantage of the US and our taxpayers." To those few Senators who think I don’t like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO. What I don’t like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in Military Protection and Trade... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018 × Trump declared that he saw the issue as a "problem", adding, "it is being fixed!" ....We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018 × Mattis, 68, had put in his papers on Thursday in a surprise move which caught the Pentagon off guard. In his resignation letter, Mattis had said that his view wasn't aligned with the president, while asserting that he was clear-eyed on "malign actors and strategic competitors being strongly held". Trump had initially said Mattis was "retiring with distinction, at the end of February", however, in an abrupt U-turn on Sunday the president said he was replacing Mattis two months earlier than had been expected with reports indicating that he was miffed with him due to the harsh tone of the resignation letter which was made public to media organizations. In his resignation letter, Mattis had said he would step down at the end of February to allow for a successor to be confirmed and to attend congressional hearings and a key NATO meeting. However, Trump said that deputy defence secretary Patrick Shanahan would take over from Mattis on an "acting basis" on January 1st, 2019. "He will be great!" Trump said about Shanahan. Meanwhile, outgoing defence secretary James Mattis signed an order withdrawing US forces from Syria, a Defense Department spokesman said, after President Trump announced last Wednesday that America's mission in Syria was over, a hot-button issue with Mattis who did not see explicitly agree with Trump's move.

US subsidising militaries of rich countries, Mattis did not see it as a problem: Trump

<p>US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was replacing Defence Secretary Jim Mattis two months earlier than had been expected, a move officials said was driven by Trump's anger at Mattis' resignation letter and its rebuke of his foreign policy.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/what-james-mattiss-resignation-means-for-syria-afghanistan-and-nato-185942">Mattis abruptly said he was quitting on Thursday</a> after falling out with Trump over his foreign policy, including surprise decisions to yank troops from Syria and start planning a drawdown in Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Mattis distributed a candid resignation letter addressed to Trump that laid bare the growing divide between them, and implicitly criticized Trump for failing to value America’s closest allies, who fought alongside the United States in both conflicts. He said Trump should have a defense secretary more aligned with his views.</p>

<p>Trump said that Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would take over for Mattis on an acting basis on Jan. 1. In a tweet, Trump called the former Boeing Co executive "very talented."</p>

<p>"He will be great!" Trump said about Shanahan.</p>

<p>A senior White House official said that Trump was irked by the attention given to Mattis' resignation letter.</p>

<p>"He just wants a smooth, more quick transition and felt that dragging it out for a couple of months is not good,” the official said, on condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>The official said Trump was expected to pick a nominee for defense secretary over the next couple of weeks.</p>

<p>Mattis, a retired Marine general who was highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats, has far wider political support in Washington than Trump himself.</p>

<p>Mattis "will continue to focus on what he needs to do ... to ensure a smooth transition," a U.S. defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said.</p>

<p>In a shock announcement on Wednesday, Trump said he was withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria, a decision that upended American policy in the region. A day later, U.S. officials told Reuters the United States was planning on pulling about half of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.</p>


US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was replacing Defence Secretary Jim Mattis two months earlier than had been expected, a move officials said was driven by Trump's anger at Mattis' resignation letter and its rebuke of his foreign policy.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was replacing Defence Secretary Jim Mattis two months earlier than had been expected, a move officials said was driven by Trump's anger at Mattis' resignation letter and its rebuke of his foreign policy. Mattis abruptly said he was quitting on Thursday after falling out with Trump over his foreign policy, including surprise decisions to yank troops from Syria and start planning a drawdown in Afghanistan. Mattis distributed a candid resignation letter addressed to Trump that laid bare the growing divide between them, and implicitly criticized Trump for failing to value America’s closest allies, who fought alongside the United States in both conflicts. He said Trump should have a defense secretary more aligned with his views. Trump said that Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would take over for Mattis on an acting basis on Jan. 1. In a tweet, Trump called the former Boeing Co executive "very talented." "He will be great!" Trump said about Shanahan. A senior White House official said that Trump was irked by the attention given to Mattis' resignation letter. "He just wants a smooth, more quick transition and felt that dragging it out for a couple of months is not good,” the official said, on condition of anonymity. The official said Trump was expected to pick a nominee for defense secretary over the next couple of weeks. Mattis, a retired Marine general who was highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats, has far wider political support in Washington than Trump himself. Mattis "will continue to focus on what he needs to do ... to ensure a smooth transition," a U.S. defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said. In a shock announcement on Wednesday, Trump said he was withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria, a decision that upended American policy in the region. A day later, U.S. officials told Reuters the United States was planning on pulling about half of the 14,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Trump, irritated by resignation letter, tells Mattis to go 2 months early

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US subsidising militaries of rich countries, Mattis did not see it as a problem: Trump

Trump, irritated by resignation letter, tells Mattis to go 2 months early