Defense Secretary James Mattis has claimed that Donald Trump personally assured him that his job is “100 percent” safe, just days after the president publicly hinted that he might be kicked out of his administration. Mattis has been under pressure following Trump’s 60 Minutes interview in which he said Mattis “may leave” the administration and he’s “sort of a Democrat.” Mattis approached reporters traveling with him on a trip to Vietnam and said Trump expressed his full support for Mattis and suggested he informed the press. Asked directly whether he’s a Democrat, Mattis said, “We’re all built on our formative experiences. When I was 18, I joined the Marine Corps, and in the U.S. military we are proudly apolitical.” Asked if that meant he was not a registered member of either major political party, he replied, “I’ve never registered for any political party.”

Mattis Won’t Go Unless Trump Says ‘You’re Fired!’

STAYING POWER

Kimberly Dozier, Christopher Dickey