President Trump announced on Thursday that Defense Secretary James Mattis will retire "with distinction" at the end of February, soon after Mr. Trump announced he would order the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
"During Jim's tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment," Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. "General Mattis was a great help to me in getting allies and other countries to pay their share of military obligations. A new Secretary of Defense will be named shortly. I greatly thank Jim for his service!"
News of Mattis' impending departure comes the day after Mr. Trump's sudden announcement about Syria, a decision he made without consulting security officials in his administration.
TVNL Comment: The last of the grown-ups in theTrump cabinet is leaving. This is either the end of Trump or the end of the nation. Both are probable.