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December 24, 2018
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After criticism, Trump pushes out Mattis sooner than planned

By LOLITA C. BALDOR han will take over as act-
Associated Press ing secretary on Jan. 1 to
WASHINGTON (AP) — Irri- cover the accelerated de-
tated with the criticism and parture.
fallout from Defense Secre- The sudden change strips
tary Jim Mattis’ resignation, Mattis of any chance to fur-
President Donald Trump on ther frame national security
Sunday pushed the Pen- policy or smooth rattled re-
tagon chief out the door lations with allies through
two months earlier than the originally planned tran-
planned, an acrimonious sition at the end of Febru-
end to a tense relationship ary.
that had been eroding in And it reflects White House
recent months. displeasure with the retired
In a series of tweets, Trump Marine Corps general’s
appeared to question why blistering resignation let-
he had put Mattis in his ter, which he delivered to
Cabinet in the first place, Trump on Thursday. In this April 9, 2018, file photo, Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, right, listen as
and said deputy defense President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, in Washington.
secretary Patrick Shana- Continued on Page 4 Associated Press