--- title: "Mattis Is Out As Defense Secretary In Wake Of Trump’s Sudden Syria Withdrawal Order" description: "Mattis' resignation letter makes the much-speculated disagreements between the two men on key issues crystal clear." date: "2018-12-20" modified: "2018-12-20" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/25617/mattis-is-out-as-defense-secretary-in-wake-of-trumps-sudden-syria-withdrawal-order" categories: - "Americas" - "Around The Globe" - "Middle East" - "News & Features" - "POTUS" - "Syria" - "U.S. Homeland" tags: - "Afghanistan" - "Defense Department" - "Mattis" - "resignation" - "Secretary Of Defense" - "Syria" - "trump" - "Trump Administration" - "Withdraw" --- # Mattis Is Out As Defense Secretary In Wake Of Trump’s Sudden Syria Withdrawal Order ![]() *www.twz.com* Retired General James Mattis has officially resigned as the 26th U.S. Secretary of Defense. The news comes after President Donald Trump decided with little warning and against overwhelming advice from his cabinet and senior advisers to rapidly [withdraw all personnel from Syria]() and end combat operations in the country overall, something Mattis has made [clear time]() and [time again]() would be an error with profound consequences. Trump framed the resignation as a "retirement" in the Tweet seen below, but Mattis' resignation letter makes it clear that the two do not see eye to eye and that someone whose "views are better aligned with your own on these and other subjects" would better serve Trump. Mattis also mentions the need to treat our allies with respect and to provide clear global leadership—a clear swipe [at Trump's foreign policy]()—in the relatively long resignation letter that is also posted in the tweets below. https://twitter.com/_/status/1075878793393463296 https://twitter.com/_/status/1075881565216010246 ![message-editor%2F1545346111835-555222.jpeg]() **Mattis Resignation Letter [via @Calbon]()** This also comes as multiple [reports that Trump will also]() order a [withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan]() are surfacing. This is something I said would be a very likely possibility after yesterday's sudden orders. https://twitter.com/_/status/1075875699897102336 https://twitter.com/_/status/1075537549089632256 Mattis is very highly regarded on both sides of the aisle and is seen by Trump's political opponents as "the last adult in the room" after it was announced retired General John Kelly was also leaving his position as White House Chief of Staff. Combined with a looming government shutdown over funding for [Trump's border wall]()—even after a stop-gap spending measure has been passed by Congress—as well as the tightening focus of the Mueller Investigation—one of *17 investigations* into Trump's political and business practices—this news is sure to rattle Washington to its core. We will save the opinion for another post, but we want to hear from you! Let us know what your thoughts are on this news in our always lively comments section below. *Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()