US President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday he's "seriously considering" retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis for defense secretary.
Trump made the remark in a meeting with the New York Times, a reporter with the paper said in a Twitter posting.
The remark suggests the former Central Command commander is almost certain to get the job.
Mattis emerged as the No. 1 candidate to lead the Pentagon as Trump said he had a "very impressive" meeting with him Saturday and lauded him as "the real deal" and "a true general's general."
Mattis, 66, retired in 2013 after serving 44 years in the military. Nicknamed "Mad Dog" because of his eagerness to fight, he is considered something of a legendary figure and is well-respected not only in the Marine Corps, but also throughout the US military.
As Central Command leader, Mattis oversaw all US forces in the Middle East. But his hard-line views on how to deal with Iran were at odds with the administration of President Barack Obama. He has also been an outspoken critic of the Iranian nuclear deal. (Yonhap)
