Trump Introduces General Mattis for Defense Secretary Position

The elected President of the United States has announced that he will introduce retired General James Mattis for the position of Secretary of Defense in his administration. Mr. Trump stated during a speech in Kentucky on Thursday night, December 1, that 'I’m not telling you that one of our really, really great generals is being introduced for Secretary of Defense. Don’t tell anyone outside this room.' Apparently, Mr. Trump’s joke is because the official introduction is set to take place on Monday. The elected President added, 'We will introduce Mattis as Secretary of Defense... but we won’t officially announce this until Monday... so don’t tell anyone.' 'Mad Dog' is a nickname given to General James Mattis by military personnel and the media. General Mattis served as the commander of the Central Command from 2010 to 2013 during Barack Obama’s presidency, overseeing U.S. operations in the Middle East. According to American media reports, if Mattis takes over the Department of Defense, he will be the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military to hold this position in the past half-century. Mr. Trump has compared him to General George Patton, a commander known for his significant reputation during World War II and for leading the Seventh Army of the United States, as well as his personal temperament. The elected President stated, 'They say he (Mattis) is the closest thing we have to General George Patton.' Mr. Trump and Mattis had met on November 20 at the elected President's golf course in New Jersey. In related news, Trump has nominated Steven Mnuchin for the Treasury Department.