BARON: It seems every time there’s something the president says that upsets half the country, there’s a call for the generals — you, [John] Kelly, McMaster — should resign for something. Could you talk — answer those critics ... just tell them while you’re serving, have you ever had those thoughts cross your mind, in this administration? Would that have crossed your mind?

MATTIS: You know, when a president of the United States asks you to do something, I come. I don’t think it’s an old-fashioned school at all, I don’t think it’s old-fashioned or anything. I don’t care if it’s Republican or Democrat; we all have an obligation to serve. That’s all there is to it.

And so you serve. And you — I mean, the first time I met with President Trump, we disagreed on three things in my first 40 minutes with him, on NATO, on torture and something else, and he hired me. This is not a man who’s immune to being persuaded if he thinks you’ve got an argument. So anyway, press on.