Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will step down in February. (Photo: Agnencies)

Washington (People's Daily) - US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will retire at the end of February, marking the latest top official to exit the Trump administration in the coming months.

On Twitter, Trump affirmed the “tremendous progress” made under Mattis’ tenure and praised him as a “great help." Trump also said he would name a new Defense Secretary “shortly."