Amid Trump’s anti-media onslaught, Pentagon chief says ‘no issues’ with press
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis claims everything running smoothly from military perspective, as White House grapples with multiple challenges
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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday that America’s vast military continues to run smoothly, even though President Donald Trump’s first month has been marked by consecutive crises. He added that he has no issues with the media, despite his boss’ condemnation that the “fake news media” is “the enemy of the American people.”
The Pentagon chief said he’s had some tense exchanges with members of the media, but added that the press is a constituency he deals with.
“I have had some rather contentious times with the press,” said Mattis, a former Marine general whose fiery war talk has landed him in hot water on several occasions.
“But the press as far as I am concerned are a constituency that we deal with, and I don’t have any issues with the press myself,” he told reporters, in Abu Dhabi during his first trip to the region in the position.
While campaigning and since his election, Trump has blasted the media on a near-daily basis, dismissing stories he dislikes of being “fake news” and calling journalists dishonest. He took his disdain to a new level Friday, when he said several US news networks were “the enemy.”
The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017
In response to a question about a comment last week from Army General Raymond “Tony” Thomas, who said the US government was in “unbelievable turmoil,” Mattis said Sunday: “Welcome to democracy.”
“It’s at times wildly contentious, it’s at times quite sporting, but the bottom line is this is the best form of government we can come up with.”
“We don’t have any disarray inside the military, and that’s where my responsibility lies,” he emphasized.
Trump’s first few weeks have been notable for a growing scandal over possible White House-Kremlin ties, a botched travel ban and controversial cabinet picks.
The new Pentagon chief said Sunday Thomas may have been taken out of context and, as far as he is concerned, everything is running smoothly from a military perspective.
“The military job is to hold the line, to hold the line and to hold the line, while our government sorts out the way ahead and our people speak,” he said.
Military commanders in the region say they have so far seen little impact from the presidential transition.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report
The Times of Israel Community.