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WASHINGTON, Dec. 20-- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis will "retire" at the end of February, an announcement the Pentagon later confirmed by publishing its chief's resignation letter implying differences with the president. Mattis will "be retiring, with distinction," after having served the administration as the defense chief for the past two years, Trump tweeted. "During Jim's tenure, tremendous progress has been made, especially with respect to the purchase of new fighting equipment," the president tweeted. He added that a new secretary of defense "will be named shortly." There have been rumors for a long time that the relationship between Trump and Mattis wasn't smooth, but the president didn't mention his disputes with Mattis or whether Mattis was forced to resign. However, in a resignation letter to Trump dated Thursday, the defense secretary wrote "Because you have a right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours" on many subjects, "I believe it is right for me to step down from my position." In the letter, the 68-year-old former Marine Corps general implicitly criticized Trump for his treatment of U.S. allies. "One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships," Mattis wrote. | 
