Patrick Shanahan: Trump says his choice for Pentagon chief is out

US President Donald Trump has announced his choice for defence secretary has withdrawn, shaking up the Pentagon at a time of rising Middle East tensions.

He tweeted that Patrick Shanahan has pulled out of consideration “so that he can devote more time to his family”.

Mr Shanahan, who will be replaced by Army Secretary Mark Esper, had not yet been nominated for the cabinet post.

It comes as Mr Shanahan publicly addressed allegations of domestic violence.

Mr Trump told reporters Mr Shanahan submitted his withdrawal on Tuesday morning.

“I didn’t ask him to withdraw, but he walked in this morning and said it was going to be a rough time for him,” Mr Trump said, adding that he first heard of the “unfortunate” allegations on Monday.

Earlier on Tuesday, USA Today reported the FBI was investigating a 2010 incident in which Mr Shanahan and his ex-wife accused each other of assault.

Minutes after Mr Trump’s announcement, the Washington Post published an interview with Mr Shanahan in which he discussed a 2011 incident when his son, then 17, reportedly beat his mother with a baseball bat, fracturing her skull.

n a statement announcing his resignation, Mr Shanahan called it “unfortunate that a painful and deeply personal family situation from long ago is being dredged up and painted in an incomplete and therefore misleading way”.

He said he did not want his three children “to relive a traumatic chapter in our family’s life and reopen wounds we have worked years to heal”.

Mr Shanahan added: “I would welcome the opportunity to be secretary of defense, but not at the expense of being a good father.”

On Monday, he told the Washington Post that he regretted a legal memo he penned shortly after the alleged attack on his ex-wife. Read more

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