US President Donald Trump said Sunday that US Deputy Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan will become acting Secretary of Defence starting from 1 January 2019.
“I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defence, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019. Patrick has a long list of accomplishments while serving as Deputy, & previously Boeing. He will be great!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
The statement comes after earlier this month General James Mattis wrote a resignation letter, stating that Trump has a right to have a Secretary of Defence “whose views are better aligned” with those of the US president.