John Dowd, a former U.S. Marine who went on to serve on President Donald Trump’s legal council, responded to criticisms of the president leveled by Defense Secretary and retired Marine Gen. James Mattis.
Dowd wrote in his letter, which was shared by the president, that he had “slept on” Mattis’ remarks criticizing Trump and “woke up appalled and upset.” Dowd, addressing Mattis, said “[I] Never dreamed you would let a bunch of hack politicians use your good name and reputation—earned with the blood and guts of young Marines.”
Trump tweeted an image of Dowd’s response to Mattis.
“I thought this letter from respected retired Marine and Super Star lawyer, John Dowd, would be of interest to the American People. Read it!” Trump said.
I thought this letter from respected retired Marine and Super Star lawyer, John Dowd, would be of interest to the American People. Read it! pic.twitter.com/I5tjysckZh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2020
In his Wednesday letter, Mattis criticized the president over allegations he ordered police to tear gas peaceful protesters outside the White House so he could take a photo op outside the White House. Mattis also said, “we must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers.”
In his response, Dowd described the protests near the White House as “terrorists” inciting people to “burn and destroy.”
“The phony protesters near Lafayette park were not peaceful and are not real. They are terrorists using idle hate filled students to burn and destroy,” Dowd wrote. “They were abusing and disrespecting the police when the police were preparing the area for the 1900 curfew. Jim, this is the new nihilism.”
Dowd also responded to Mattis’ criticism of Trump’s support for using National Guard and active military units to quell civil unrest that has led to rioting and looting.
“Did you forget that President Bush used active duty Marines to quell the riots in LA? President Trump has countless cities and some snowflake governors and mayors wetting themselves in the use of force to protect innocent lives and property,” Dowd wrote. “The AG of Massachusetts thinks burning property is good protest. Three more policemen were stabbed and shot in NYC last night. Think about it. Should he be upset about the obvious failure of leadership? Where are you Jim?”
In another passage, Dowd took aim at Mattis remarking that Trump “does not even pretend to try” to unite Americans.
“No one divided this country more than Obama. He abandoned our black brothers and sisters. He gave guns to the cartels. He apologized for our precious sacrifice and generosity overseas,” Dowd wrote. “President Trump has done more to help our minority brothers and sisters in the three years than anyone in the last fifty. Ask the black pastors. Ask the leaders of the black colleges and universities. He got them funded. Ask them about the prison reform which ended the draconian sentences imposed on young black men by the laws enacted by Biden and his hacks. You need to bone up on your homework and stop listening to Uncle Leon.”
Later in the letter, Dowd appeared to criticize Mattis for not taking out Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, while Mattis led the U.S. Central Command.
“Maybe, your problem is a lot deeper. Perhaps you ought to explain how and why you (and John Allen), as CG Central Command, did not engage and take out Iranian Major General Soleimani who roamed the Middle East and wreaked havoc and death of American boys with his infamous IEDs?,” Dowd wrote. “Why did it take President Trump to have the instinct and balls to take him out (of course over the objection the geniuses in the Pentagon)?”
Trump shared Dowd’s letter on Thursday along with his own criticisms of Mattis. In his own remarks, Trump called Mattis “overrated” and said “he seldom ‘brought home the bacon’.”
Dowd is a former Marine Judge Advocate and served as legal counsel to Trump until March of 2018, Fox News reported.
