Trump does not even pretend to try to unite Americans: Ex-Defence Secy
US President Donald Trump does not try to unite Americans, but divides them instead, former US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis has written in The Atlantic.
“Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us,” wrote Mattis. “…We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership,” he added.
Mattis criticised the US President for quelling the protests against the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, by a Derek Chauvin, a white police officer. “I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled,” he wrote.
Stating that the protesters have been demanding the ‘Equal Justice Under Law’ that were carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court, Mattis said we must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution,” he added.
Reacting to his former Defence Secretary’s comments, Trump came down heavily on Mattis in a couple of tweets.
Probably the only thing Barack Obama & I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General. I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about it. His nickname was “Chaos”, which I didn’t like, & changed to “Mad Dog”…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2020
“…His primary strength was not military, but rather personal public relations. I gave him a new life, things to do, and battles to win, but he seldom “brought home the bacon”. I didn’t like his “leadership” style or much else about him, and many others agree. Glad he is gone!” Trump said in another tweet.
Mattis announced his resignation from the post in December 2018, after Trump did not reconsider his decision to withdraw the American troops from Syria.
