President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence pose for photographes with retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as he arrives at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President-elect Donald Trump spent over an hour meeting with retired Gen. James Mattis in Bedminster, New Jersey, Saturday afternoon.

After the meeting, an insider official told CNN that Trump is very interested in the idea of having Mattis serve in his administration.

The source said it is not official yet but said he can be considered a leading candidate for secretary of defense.

Trump told reporters, “All I can say is he is the real deal. He is the real deal” when asked if he was choosing Mattis for the Sec. Def. position.

The President-elect was extremely impressed with the former commander of U.S. Centeral Command resume, according to the source.

For Mattis to assume the position he will require a waiver for congress because he has not been retired from the military long enough to assume the position.

Former military personnel are required to have been out of the service for a period of seven years before taking the job.

Reports suggest that the Republican controlled Congress would likely approve the waiver.

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