President Donald Trump taunted his outgoing Defense Secretary on Twitter Saturday night, saying that he had given him “a second chance” after he was “ingloriously fired” by his predecessor, Barack Obama.

“When President Obama ingloriously fired Jim Mattis, I gave him a second chance,” Trump tweeted. “Some thought I shouldn’t, I thought I should. Interesting relationship-but I also gave all of the resources that he never really had. Allies are very important-but not when they take advantage of U.S.”

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Obama had fired Mattis without a phone call, it was reported at the time.

Trump also seemed to bitterly comment upon his own reputation, calling himself “your favorite President” and saying that he would be a hero for ending the war in Syria were it not for his historic unpopularity.

“If anybody but your favorite President, Donald J. Trump, announced that, after decimating ISIS in Syria, we were going to bring our troops back home (happy & healthy), that person would be the most popular hero in America.

If anybody but your favorite President, Donald J. Trump, announced that, after decimating ISIS in Syria, we were going to bring our troops back home (happy & healthy), that person would be the most popular hero in America. With me, hit hard instead by the Fake News Media. Crazy! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018

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