House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D) said Thursday evening that she was disturbed to learn about the abrupt resignation of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
“I am shaken by the resignation of Gen. Mattis, for what it means to our country, for the message it sends to our troops and for the indication of what his view is of the commander-in-chief,” Pelosi told ABC News.
Rep. Pelosi: "Yes, I am shaken by the resignation of Gen. Mattis, for what it means to our country, for the message it sends to our troops and for the indication of what his view is of the commander-in-chief." https://t.co/WbxmlFGp62 pic.twitter.com/7bg69cAVa7
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 21, 2018
Mattis tendered his resignation in a letter laying out his disagreements with President Trump on everything from “treating our allies with respect” to growing to close to “authoritarian” countries like Russia and China. Mattis reportedly chose to resign this week over his concerns about Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan without a plan in place for what will happen once they are gone.
The retiring general was making a clear statement with his carefully-worded letter, distributing copies of it throughout the Pentagon, according to a New York Times report.
“You have leaders, great leaders who have left this administration in dismay,” Pelosi told ABC of Mattis’ departure. “And the rest of them have left in disgrace. And that’s what this administration has been about.”
