After Official Denial, Trump Tells Audience That Next Week He’ll Announce He’s Nominating General James “Mad Dog” Mattis
Will Be Nominated as Defense Secretary but Congress Will Have to Pass a Law Before He Can Be Confirmed
Thursday afternoon media outlets including NCRM reported that Donald Trump had picked a retired Marine General, nicknamed “Mad Dog,” to become his nominee for Secretary of Defense. One hour later Trump transition team communications director Jason Miller issued an official denial.Â
No decision has been made yet with regard to Secretary of Defense. #TrumpTransition
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) December 1, 2016
In his Ohio victory rally Thursday night, Trump “leaked” the news that he in fact had chosen retired Marine General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, also known as the “Warrior Monk,” to become his Defense Secretary.
Teasing the audience, Trump said, “I don’t want to tell you, because I want to save the suspense for next week, so I will not tell you, I refuse to tell you, and don’t let it outside this room,” he quipped, noting there are seven network news cameras recording his every word.
He then announced his pick, calling Gen. Mattis, who President Barack Obama fired nearly four years ago, “one of our great, great generals.”
Watch:
Here’s video of Trump announcing retired Marine Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis is his pick for Secretary of Defense pic.twitter.com/JulmaGNoaE
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) December 2, 2016
Since America believes in civilian control of our military, Trump will have to have a law passed by Congress so Mattis can serve.
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