Outgoing Secretary of Defense James Mattis sent a farewell message to all Department of Defense employees on Monday that included a quote from Abraham Lincoln, but did not make any mention of President Donald Trump, the Washington Examiner reported.
Mattis made reference to a line that Lincoln sent then-Gen. Ulysses Grant: “Let nothing which is transpiring, change, hinder, or delay your military movements, or plans.”
Mattis, who is leaving his position on Monday, kept the letter Lincoln had sent to Grant in his office as a reminder to ignore the distractions and turmoil of Washington, D.C.
The outgoing defense secretary added in his message that "Our Department is proven to be at its best when the times are most difficult. So keep the faith in our country and hold fast, alongside our allies, aligned against our foes," according to CNN.
Mattis also expressed confidence in the department's leadership as his deputy defense secretary, Patrick Shanahan, readies to take over as acting secretary, saying “I am confident that each of you remains undistracted for our sworn mission to support and defend the Constitution while protecting our way of life.”
Mattis announced on December 20 that he would be leaving his post after Trump went against the advice of his top advisers not to withdraw American troops from Syria and Afghanistan, according to the Examiner.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.