Trump’s announcement drew immediate criticism, from Republicans as well as Democrats. Sarah Sanders called over to Mattis’s office asking if the Pentagon would be sending any military brass or spokespeople out for media hits to discuss the value of withdrawing from Syria. Dana White, Mattis’s communications chief, checked with Sweeney. “No one is going out,” Sweeney told White. “You can go back and tell her that this was a White House decision. So help her, but no one in this department is going out to represent this decision.”
