Pentagon Chief of Staff Kevin Sweeney becomes THIRD senior official to quit in less than a month following Donald Trump’s Syria withdrawal announcement
- Kevin Sweeney announced his departure on Saturday just two years into the job
- He’s the third Pentagon official to quit since Trump’s Syria exit announcement
- The President Announced on December 19 that he was withdrawing US Troops
- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned 24 hours after Trump’s announcement
- Pentagon spokesperson Dana White also vacated her post last month
Department of Defense chief of staff Kevin Sweeney has become the third senior Pentagon official to resign from his post since President Trump announced his intentions to withdraw US troops from Syria.
In a brief statement posted on Saturday evening, Sweeney said: ‘I’ve decided the time is right to return to the private sector. It has been an honor to serve again alongside the men and women of the Department of Defense’.
He steps down from the position just two years after accepting the role.
Former Navy Admiral, Kevin Sweeney (above), stepped down as Department of Defense chief of Staff on Saturday Evening, just weeks after his former boss, Jim Mattis
Sweeney’s announcement comes just weeks after General Jim Mattis handed in his resignation last month, where he issued the President a passing shot by saying Trump deserved a defense secretary ‘whose views are better aligned’ with his.
Mattis’ resignation was declared less than 24 hours after Trump his intentions to withdraw all US troops from Syria, under the belief the Islamic State had been defeated.
In last night’s statement, Sweeney made no mention of the President but a source told CNN the White House actually forced the retired Navy Admiral out of the door.
General Mattis’ departure was previously advanced by the President, as Trump allegedly became increasingly aggrieved over the extensive coverage of his resignation was garnering.
General Mattis (above) stepped down as Defense Secretary just 24 hours after Trump announced a brash and controversial plan to withdraw US Troops from Syria
The President’s administration has rife with high-profile resignations and firings, including Jeff Sessions being ousted as attorney general following the November midterm elections
The presidential special envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State, Brett McGurk, also stepped down after the Syria exit announcement, along with department spokesperson Dana White.
Trump’s time in office has been plagued by a litany of high-profile resignations and firings within his administration, signifying a turbulent two years behind the White House doors.
Jeff Sessions was ousted as attorney general 24 hours after the November midterms, Rex Tillerson was axed as secretary of state in March and the President is already onto his third Chief of Staff, having announced John Kelly would be leaving his position at the end of 2018.
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Dana White (above), also stepped aside from her post in December, coinciding with Mattis’ departure