President Donald Trump¹ announced last Sunday he would replace Defense² Secretary James Mattis at the start of the new year, two months earlier than Mattis' planned departure.

美国总统唐纳德·特朗普上周日宣布，他将在新年伊始换掉现任国防部长詹姆斯·马蒂斯，这比马蒂斯本来预计的离职时间要早两个月。

"I am pleased to announce that our very talented Deputy Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, will assume the title of Acting³ Secretary of Defense starting January 1, 2019," Trump tweeted.

特朗普在推特上发文称：“我很高兴地宣布，我们才华横溢的国防部副部长帕特里克·沙纳汉将于2019年1月1日起担任代理国防部长一职。”

"Patrick has a long list of accomplishments⁴ while serving as Deputy, & previously⁵ Boeing. He will be great!"

“在担任副部长和波音公司副总裁期间，帕特里克取得了一系列不凡成就。他会干得很出色的！”

特朗普宣布美国国防部长将于元旦换人

Mattis announced his resignation last Thursday with a letter saying his views were not aligned⁶ with Trump, who said Mattis would retire at the end of February.

马蒂斯于上周四宣布辞职，并在辞职信中表示，他的观点无法与特朗普达成一致。特朗普之前曾表示马蒂斯将在2月底退休。

Mattis' last day is expected to be Jan. 1, according to a source familiar with the matter.

据知情人士透露，1月1日预计是马蒂斯工作的最后一天。

He is not expected to have a big, public farewell ceremony to try to prevent further exacerbating⁷ tensions between himself and Trump, the source said.

该消息来源称，马蒂斯不希望举行盛大的公开告别仪式，以免自己和特朗普之间的紧张关系进一步恶化。