Report: Trump Administration Considering Jim Webb As Next Defense Secretary
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January 4, 2019The Trump administration hasn’t selected an official replacement for former Defense Secretary James Mattis, but word has it the administration is considering former Democratic senator Jim Webb.
NYT: White House Mulls Jim Webb, Ex-Democratic Senator, as Next Defense Secretary https://t.co/llOHbEjzj0
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 3, 2019
For those interested, my initial report in @amconmag from a few days ago that @nytimes has now confirmed. https://t.co/KP9yhFRsK0
— Curt Mills (@CurtMills) January 3, 2019
The Trump administration is considering Jim Webb, a former Democratic senator and Reagan-era secretary of the Navy, to be the next defense secretary, according to three officials, potentially bypassing more hawkish Republicans whose names have been floated to replace Jim Mattis.
Mr. Webb, an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, is being considered as President Trump seeks to carry out campaign promises to withdraw American troops from Syria and Afghanistan.
He’s been critical of the Iran Deal too, so that’s something.
Nothing is official yet, but Vice President Mike Pence has reportedly reached out to Webb already.
Representatives for Vice President Mike Pence and Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, have reached out to Mr. Webb, one of the three officials said. Separately, a senior Defense Department official confirmed that Mr. Webb’s name had been circulating at the White House. Those two and the third official all spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the internal discussions.
Mr. Webb did not respond to a request for comment, and a White House official said the vice president’s staff has had no contact with Mr. Webb. How seriously he is being considered was unclear; Mr. Trump likes to float names as he considers his options for various openings in the government — sometimes to test responses and sometimes to keep the news media guessing.
What do you think? Would he be a solid replacement?
Update: Trump says this is FAKE NEWS.
The story in the New York Times regarding Jim Webb being considered as the next Secretary of Defense is FAKE NEWS. I’m sure he is a fine man, but I don’t know Jim, and never met him. Patrick Shanahan, who is Acting Secretary of Defense, is doing a great job!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2019
