Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic

by David Frum

Mattis’s own low personal regard for President Trump accidentally became public when video emerged of Mattis in a small-group conversation with military personnel in Jordan. After praising them, the defense secretary added, “You’re a great example for our country right now. It’s got some problems. You know it, and I know it. It’s got problems that we don’t have in the military. You just hold the line, my fine young soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. You just hold the line until our country gets back to understanding and respecting each other, and showing it—of being friendly to one another, of understanding what Americans owe to one another. . . . We’ve got two powers: the power of inspiration—and you’ll get the inspiration back—and the power of intimidation, and that’s you.”22