WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US President Donald Trump said in a statement on Monday that he and outgoing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis had different views on funding the militaries of other countries.
« We are substantially subsidizing the militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the US, and our TAXPAYERS, on trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem, » Trump said. « I DO, and it is being fixed! »
The comment was made after on Thursday, Mattis in a resignation letter said he was stepping down at the end of February citing the fact that Trump needed to find a defence chief whose views were more aligned with his own.
« To those few senators who think I don’t like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO, » Trump said.
