Rep. Ted Lieu
Ted W. LieuDem lawmakers to open probe into ‘complex web of relationships’ between NRA, Russia Kamala Harris shopping trip stirs Twitter campaign trail debate Newsom endorses Kamala Harris for president MORE (D-Calif.) blasted President Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump nominates Jeffrey Rosen to replace Rosenstein at DOJ McCabe says ‘it’s possible’ Trump is a Russian asset McCabe: Trump ‘undermining the role of law enforcement’ MORE for forcing Defense Secretary James Mattis
James Norman MattisAllies wary of Shanahan's assurances with looming presence of Trump Congress closer to forcing Trump’s hand on Saudi support Trump nominates ambassador to Turkey MORE out two months earlier than his planned departure.
“How to describe this?” Lieu, a frequent Trump critic, tweeted on Sunday. “PETTY, WEAK, JUVENILE.”
Via tweet, @realDonaldTrump has announced he would install Patrick Shanahan as Acting Secretary of Defense and force out Mattis two months early.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 23, 2018
How to describe this?
P E T T Y
W E A K
J U V E N I L E https://t.co/ZJcn8XaH9L
Lieu’s tweet came moments after Trump tweeted that his choice for acting Defense secretary would take over on Jan. 1.
Trump is tapping Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to replace Mattis as acting Pentagon chief.
“I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019,” Trump tweeted. “Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!”
Mattis submitted his resignation last week, saying that he would step down at the end of February.
In a resignation letter that served as a rebuke of Trump’s foreign policy, Mattis told Trump that he deserved a secretary "whose views are better aligned with yours."
The resignation came after Trump announced his plan to withdraw troops from Syria, which has drawn opposition from Pentagon officials and lawmakers.
Though Trump originally praised Mattis in a tweet after he announced his departure, the president later took a swipe at the Defense secretary before moving to accelerate his departure.
