In a circulating quote on social media, Marine Corps General James “Mad Dog” Mattis allegedly called anti-war protesters “pussies.” However, that quote was allegedly first attributed to Army General Tommy Franks. Right now it appears that the quote currently being attributed to President-elect Donald Trump’s chosen Secretary of Defense, Mattis, is unproven.
According to Snopes, the story about Mattis telling returning veterans that anti-war protesters are “pussies” has been on the Internet since at least 2003, and was initially attributed to Franks. But that has not stopped the quote being shared on social media.
After Trump selected Mattis to serve as Secretary of Defense in his administration, multiple web sites reported that story as fact (some bearing variations of the headline: “These Are The 7 Most Alpha Quotes From Trump’s Future Secretary Of Defense.”)
The quote reads:
“When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look at him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy.”
Snopes could not verify the original source of the quote but found that the earliest instance was on the message board “Tilted Forum Project”, where it was attributed to Franks. Franks prosecuted two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq under the preceding Bush administration, after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Here are some examples of people discussing the quote on social media.
#CTMNEWS #MIAMI #NYC #HOUSTON General James Mattis Insulted Anti-War Protesters https://t.co/mPQv7FIB6e
— CTM MAGAZINE (@CTMMAGAZINE) December 3, 2016
General James Mattis Insulted Anti-War Protesters https://t.co/che3Ls54Tk pic.twitter.com/aMIbRGo1Fn
— Vinny Green (@vinnysgreen) December 3, 2016
General James Mattis Insulted Anti-War Protesters https://t.co/q8ipqYNs57 pic.twitter.com/xawgU4NgE4
— It News talk (@DeportsIt) December 3, 2016
General James Mattis Insulted Anti-War Protesters https://t.co/Mpxvek2zVW pic.twitter.com/BJjzSfcpdF
— jhez guiber (@10jhez10) December 3, 2016
Mattis led troops in Afghanistan in 2001, won laurels for leadership in one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq War and most recently headed US Central Command, perhaps the military’s most complicated and challenging post.
If he is approved, Mattis would be the highest-ranking former officer to serve as defense secretary. The Washington State native and history major led troops through the conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. From 2010 to 2013, he led Central Command, which oversees the Middle East and Southeast Asia, until the Obama administration let him go over disagreements on Iran, according to CNN.
After Trump selected Mattis and it hit the news cycle, the quote was exhumed from the web but reattributed to Mattis, even being included in a Ranker list of the “very best” Mattis quotes.
Mattis favors working closely with allies to strictly enforce the deal.
“I don’t think that we can take advantage of some new president, Republican or Democrat, and say we’re not going to live up to our word on this agreement,” General Mattis, a retired Marine, said in April. “I believe we would be alone if we did, and unilateral economic sanctions from us would not have anywhere near the impact of an allied approach to this.”
What did you think of the quote? Have you seen it appearing on social media and how far ago in the past? Sound off below in the comments section.
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