Article snippet: Lawmakers and national security experts are questioning whether Defense Secretary in the wake of reports that the White House has looked for a successor to the Pentagon chief, and reporting in Bob Woodward's book of Mattis's frustrations with the president. Mattis quickly put out a statement this past week describing Woodward's book as fiction and denying insults attributed to him regarding Trump. The president, for his part, publicly thanked Mattis for the “nicest quote about me,” signaling a deep appreciation for the Defense secretary's words. But the public comments have not quelled concerns about possible friction between the two men. “I’m worried every day, even before the book,” said Sen. (D-Ill.), when asked if he was concerned Woodward’s new book may damage Mattis’s standing with Trump. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense, said he’s counting on Mattis to stay in his role. “He’s a critical part, not only of our national defense but the stability of our country,” Durbin said. Michael O’Hanlon, a defense expert at the Brookings Institution, said he hopes Trump will either believe Mattis’s denials or interpret Woodward’s quotes of him in a more lighthearted way. “But of course it takes a lot of hopefulness to offer that perspective because Trump’s not known for forgiveness or for lightheartedness or for his sense of humor,” O’Hanlon said. “And he is known for bearing a grudge, so I think you ha... Link to the full article to read more