Former Defense Secretary James Mattis roasted his old boss President Donald Trump on Thursday, saying that he is not just an overrated g...
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis roasted his old boss President Donald Trump on Thursday, saying that he is not just an overrated general but the greatest overrated general.
General Mattis made the joking remarks at a white-tie gala in New York just one day after Trump demeaned him as 'the world's most overrated general' during a contentious White House meeting with members of Congress.
The meeting was intended to be a bipartisan discussion of Trump's decision to pull U.S. forces from northern Syria, but it broke up after a testy exchange between Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Before the walkout, Trump disparaged Mattis, who had argued as defense secretary that U.S. troops were needed in Syria to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State fighters.
Trump said Mattis 'wasn't tough enough' and went on to say: 'I captured ISIS'.
Former Defense Secretary James Mattis unleashed on Donald Trump at a white-tie gala in New York on Thursday after the President demeaned him as 'the world's most overrated general'
The meeting was intended to be a bipartisan discussion of Trump's decision to pull U.S. forces from northern Syria, but it broke up after a testy exchange between Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
The retired Marine General Mattis, who resigned as defense secretary last December in a military policy dispute with Trump, mocked his former boss during a keynote address at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York on Thursday.
'I'm not just an overrated general. I'm the most overrated general,' Mattis said.
'I'm honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress.
'So I guess I'm the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me.
'You do have to admit that between me and Meryl, at least we've had some victories.'
Trump slammed Streep as 'one of the most overrated' actresses in Hollywood when she criticized him during a Golden Globes speech.
He went on to say the 'underrated' label from Trump didn't bother him.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan (center) applauded former U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis (left) after he delivered the keynote address in which he roasted Trump
The retired Marine General Mattis, who resigned as defense secretary last December in a military policy dispute with Trump, mocked his former boss during a keynote address
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (left), Maureen Sherry Klinsky (center) and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (right) were spotted reacting to Mattis' remarks
Michael Bloomberg was also in attendance at the white-tie gala in New York on Thursday night
'I earned my spurs on the battlefield; Donald Trump earned his spurs from the doctor,' he said.
His jabs at Trump continued throughout his speech as he referenced his time since leaving the White House.
'As many of you know, Donald Trump nicknamed me 'Mad Dog', but these days I've turned over a kinder, gentler leaf,' he said.
'I like to think of myself as less of a mad dog and more of an emotional support animal. That's really great because now the airlines let me fly for free.'
Of leaving the White House a year ago, Mattis joked: 'The recovery process is going well, the counselor says I'll graduate soon'.
He added: 'A year, according to White House time, is about 9,000 hours of executive time or 1,800 holes of golf.'
The annual roast, hosted by New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan, draws luminaries from finance and politics.
It is named after a former New York governor who was the first Catholic to receive a major party nomination for president when he unsuccessfully ran in 1928.
It benefits a charitable foundation.
Others in attendance included New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Senator Chuck Schumer and Michael Bloomberg.
Schumer was in the room with Trump on Wednesday when he complained that Mattis was 'the world's most overrated general'.
Following Mattis' speech on Thursday, Schumer tweeted out a photo of him and the General at the event, saying: 'While President Trump was having another rally, it was great to catch up with General Mattis - The Meryl Streep of Generals.'
While many in the room laughed during Mattis' speech, others on Twitter were not so amused.
Some accused him of being spineless for not speaking out against Trump sooner. Others argued the speech was an undignified way to offer his first criticisms of Trump.
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