It’s good that Trump got him out right now, instead of waiting for the two more months Mattis wanted. The media are trying to convey that Trump moved the departure date up solely because of pique, but something else was up.
If Mattis stayed two more months, he could have been up to all sorts of mischief, like leading an inside insurrection against Trump, trying to get him to reverse policy, etc.
Then, also, a NATO defense ministers meeting was scheduled for February which apparently Mattis was anxious to attend. What would be the sense of Mattis representing the US at that, as he wouldn’t be representing the President’s policy - only trying to undermine it?
Exactly. I wonder where the initial Feb 1st date came from. Is it something Trump wanted to allow himself enough time to find a suitable replacement, or something Mattis insisted on (to plan his mischief). Regardless, Trump did the right thing in kicking him out ASAP.