U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Mattis told reporters on Tuesday that President Donald Trump called him during his flight from Washington D.C. to Ho Chin Minh City, Vietnam, to give Mattis his full support. | Kham/Pool Photo via AP Defense Mattis says Trump called him to express '100 percent' support

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Tuesday said that President Donald Trump assured him that he is "100 percent" behind him, and that the two have never discussed the retired Marine Corps general leaving his position.

The comments come after the president implied during a "60 Minutes" interview that aired Sunday that Mattis “may leave” his administration.


Mattis told reporters on Tuesday that Trump called him during his flight from Washington D.C. to Ho Chin Minh City, Vietnam, according to the Associated Press. He said the president asked him if he had seen the interview, to which Mattis said he hadn't. Mattis also said Trump told him he has his full support and that he should let the media know, the AP reported.

“We have never talked about me leaving," Mattis said, according to AP.

Mattis also addressed Trump's remark on "60 Minutes" that he thinks Mattis is “sort of a Democrat" — another perceived blow.

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“We’re all built on our formative experiences. When I was 18 I joined the Marine Corps, and in the U.S. military we are proudly apolitical," he told reporters.

When pressed on whether he's formally affiliated with any political party, Mattis replied, “I’ve never registered for any political party.”

