{"id":45794,"date":"2018-09-13T14:31:34","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T14:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/13\/from-mad-dog-to-moderate-dog-mattis-trump-tensions-grow\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:17:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:17:34","slug":"from-mad-dog-to-moderate-dog-mattis-trump-tensions-grow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/pentagon\/2018\/09\/13\/from-mad-dog-to-moderate-dog-mattis-trump-tensions-grow\/","title":{"rendered":"From \u2018Mad Dog\u2019 to \u2018Moderate Dog\u2019: Mattis-Trump tensions grow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Rumors that President Donald Trump is considering replacing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis<\/a> continue to grow, buoyed by a new report claiming the commander in chief has taken to calling the former Marine general \u201cModerate Dog\u201d Mattis behind closed doors out of frustration with his measured political positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mattis, a wildly popular figure in military circles, is known to many as \u201cMad Dog,\u201d<\/a> a nickname stemming from his frequent macho comments like: \u201cBe polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” Mattis himself has said he is not a fan of the name, calling it more of a media creation than a reflection of his personality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Trump has not been shy about using the \u201cMad Dog\u201d nickname in public speeches, often referring to it as proof that he picked a battle-hardened and aggressive leader<\/a> for the Defense Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A report by Politico Wednesday night<\/a> said Trump is now souring on that view, believing that Mattis is more moderate than he had hoped. The new \u201cModerate Dog\u201d moniker suggests that Mattis could leave or be dismissed from the top Pentagon post in coming months, as Trump looks for Cabinet members more closely aligned with his policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\t