Amid a reported reluctance to acquiesce to President Donald Trump's policy positions, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will be fired or resign after the November midterms, Politico reported.
Frustrated, President Trump has privately called the once-billed "Mad Dog" Mattis a "Moderate Dog" behind closed doors, according to the report. President Trump has felt Mattis, a former Marine General, has shown more moderate political views than his once tough-guy nickname suggested.
The news comes just a week after The New York Times essay written by an anonymous "resistance" member in a senior position in the administration. Both Gen. Mattis and chief of staff John Kelly have denied being a White House mole, but "Fear" author Bob Woodward told NBC's "Today" on Monday, they are lying in their denials to protect their job.
Politico reported potential replacements for Mattis as defense secretary including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who are both up for re-election in 2020.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., are both advocating for Mattis to stay after midterms, according to the report.
"He does a great job," Sen. Barrasso told Politico, adding Mattis should "absolutely" stay on.