U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stands with retired Marine Gen. James Mattis following their meeting at the main clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
Washington Post: Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for secretary of defense
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis to be secretary of defense, according to people familiar with the decision, nominating a former senior military officer who led operations across the Middle East to run the Pentagon less than four years after he hung up his uniform.
To take the job, Mattis will need Congress to pass new legislation to bypass a federal law stating that defense secretaries must not have been on active duty in the previous seven years. Congress has granted a similar exception just once, when Gen. George C. Marshall was appointed to the job in 1950.
An announcement is likely by early next week, according to the people familiar with the choice. Jason Miller, a spokesman with the Trump transition team, tweeted Thursday evening that no decision had been made. Trump’s son Donald Jr., meanwhile, retweeted a report saying that Mattis got the job.
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WNU Editor: The Trump transition team is denying these reports .... Mattis reported named for Pentagon but Trump team denies (Reuters). More here .... Trump teams denies it has picked Marine General 'Mad Dog' Mattis as Defense Secretary (Daily Mail)
More News On Reports That Retired Marine Gen. James Mattis Has Been Selected For U.S. Secretary Of Defense
It's official: Donald Trump has chosen Gen. James Mattis for defense secretary -- Military Times
James Mattis selected as Trump's secretary of defense -- CNN
Mattis appointment as Defense secretary would signal wartime posture -- USA Today
Reports: Trump picks Mattis for Defense secretary -- USA Today
Trump picks retired General ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis for secretary of defense -- NYPost
