Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Inside Trump's First Pentagon Briefing
What I saw there that foretold the coming rift between Mattis and the presidentand today's foreign policy crises.
Long before real planning for it began, and long before the first news stories about it, those of us in the top levels of the Pentagon heard President Donald Trump demand the military parade he would eventually get. The bizarre request was one of the first signs I had of the enormous rift between my boss at the time, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and the president.
The clash came in the middle of Trumps first Pentagon briefing on Americas military and diplomatic laydowna term of art used to describe all of the locations around the world with U.S. forces and embassieson July 20, 2017. Mattis, for whom I was working as chief speechwriter, had hoped the briefing would educate Trump on the United States longstanding commitment to the rest of the world. That is not at all what happened.
Instead, the president burst out in the middle of the meeting.
I just returned from France, he said. Did you see President Macrons handshake? he asked no one in particular. He wouldnt let go. He just kept holding on. I spent two hours at Bastille Day. Very impressive.
A pause.
I want a Victory Day. Just like Veterans Day. The Fourth of July is too hot, he said, apparently out of nowhere. I want vehicles and tanks on Main Street. On Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to the White House. We need spirit! We should blow everybody away with this parade. The French had an amazing parade on Bastille Day with tanks and everything. Why cant we do that?
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/10/21/inside-trumps-first-pentagon-briefing-229865
Long before real planning for it began, and long before the first news stories about it, those of us in the top levels of the Pentagon heard President Donald Trump demand the military parade he would eventually get. The bizarre request was one of the first signs I had of the enormous rift between my boss at the time, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and the president.
The clash came in the middle of Trumps first Pentagon briefing on Americas military and diplomatic laydowna term of art used to describe all of the locations around the world with U.S. forces and embassieson July 20, 2017. Mattis, for whom I was working as chief speechwriter, had hoped the briefing would educate Trump on the United States longstanding commitment to the rest of the world. That is not at all what happened.
Instead, the president burst out in the middle of the meeting.
I just returned from France, he said. Did you see President Macrons handshake? he asked no one in particular. He wouldnt let go. He just kept holding on. I spent two hours at Bastille Day. Very impressive.
A pause.
I want a Victory Day. Just like Veterans Day. The Fourth of July is too hot, he said, apparently out of nowhere. I want vehicles and tanks on Main Street. On Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to the White House. We need spirit! We should blow everybody away with this parade. The French had an amazing parade on Bastille Day with tanks and everything. Why cant we do that?
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/10/21/inside-trumps-first-pentagon-briefing-229865
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
3 replies, 1120 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (3)
ReplyReply to this post
3 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Inside Trump's First Pentagon Briefing (Original Post)
demmiblue
Oct 2019
OP
JFC! This is what would happen if a spoiled 5-year old was invited to a Pentagon briefing.
fleur-de-lisa
Oct 2019
#2
vlyons
(10,252 posts)1. So childish and immature
Craving some shiney toy fire truck, like a 7 yr old in the Walmart toy lane.
fleur-de-lisa
(14,628 posts)2. JFC! This is what would happen if a spoiled 5-year old was invited to a Pentagon briefing.
FirstLight
(13,366 posts)3. Read the whole thing... it's chilling
The "adults" that were in the room are all gone...and even when they were there, they had no control over this manchild.
We are in so much danger from this whole administration....the ones who stay silent are just as bad...