On Thursday, MSNBC reporter Hallie Jackson attempted to set a trap for Defense Secretary General James Mattis with a question about President Donald Trump’s proposed military parade. However, like White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders did to CNN’s April Ryan earlier this week, Mattis promptly and eloquently shot the reporter down.
It all started when, during a press conference about military budget talks, a reporter identified only as “Catherine” asked Mattis to elaborate on “any cost estimates” for the planned military parade. As Trump literally just proposed the idea, Mattis effortlessly diverted the topic back to the matter at hand. “I think we’re all aware in this country of the President’s affection and respect for the military,” he said. “We’ve been putting together some options. We’ll send them up to the White House for a decision.”
However, that response wasn’t good enough for Jackson, who piggy-backed off Catherine’s question. “I have a question about North Korea, a follow-up on Catherine’s question there,” Jackson asked. “You just laid out the argument for fully funding the military, why you think every dollar counts. So why divert time, energy, financial resources to the planning of a parade, as the President has asked?”
Again, Mattis didn’t fall for the nonsense. “Again, I think that what my responsibility is, to make certain I lay out the strategy and make the argument for the oversight of Congress to make a determination of fully funding us,” he replied. “As far as the parade goes, again, the President’s respect, his fondness for the military, I think, is reflected in him asking for these options.”
Clearly, Mattis knows his way around the press room as much as he does the battlefield.
As for Trump’s proposed military parade, there’s a valid debate to be had about whether it’s the best way to honor our military in a free country. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting show respect for and pride in America’s military, a concept that liberals just can’t seem to wrap their heads around.
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